Kampala Businessman Arrested for Incitement via TikTok Power Hacks

Christian Sythn Briton Kasule, a 27-year-old businessman from Busega, has been arrested and is now under police investigation. Kasule posted a TikTok video proudly demonstrating how he illegally reconnected power after being cut off and urging others to do the same. Authorities say this amounts to incitement for public misconduct, a violation under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is probing Kasule’s actions, focusing on how his video may encourage widespread illegal electricity reconnections.

Legal Foundation & Social Context

Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act (amended in 2022) criminalizes “writing, sending or sharing information … which is likely to ridicule, degrade or demean” and incitement to illegal activities. Though initially meant to curb hate speech, it’s been increasingly used to tackle social-media posts from political commentary to now, utility sabotage.

A Pattern of TikTok-Related Arrests

Kasule isn’t the first Ugandan TikToker to draw police attention. Here’s a clearer picture of past cases;

Civil society voices warn that the Computer Misuse Act is being wielded broadly, even to curb non-political, “lifestyle” or civic content as part of a larger effort to silence dissent in digital spaces.

Unlike political or defamation-related videos, Kasule’s content targets public infrastructure misuse, showcasing how to steal electricity by reconnecting. Authorities argue this directly undermines utility regulation, potentially endangering more users and straining the national grid.

Legal experts emphasize that while Ugandans may sympathize with widespread financial hardships, incitement to theft or illegal reconnection is prosecutable.

Tensions Ahead: Digital Expression vs. Regulation

This arrest marks a shift: Uganda’s crackdown on social media is extending beyond political speech to other domains like consumer activism and public utilities. As the country prepares for the 2026 elections, the government’s bid to regulate platforms like TikTok and prevent “misinformation” or “dangerous practices” could see even broader enforcement.

Human rights defenders warn that if the Computer Misuse Act continues to be applied this way, more ordinary users risk prosecution simply for posting tutorial-style or taboo content online.

Christian Kasule’s arrest shines a spotlight on Uganda’s expanding legal control over online content. From political critique to public-service hacking, authorities are drawing a wide net. This trend is poised to redefine what is considered permissible expression and what constitutes illegal “incitement” in the digital age.