Journalist Timothy Kalyegira to Appear in Court Over Computer Misuse Charges

Ugandan journalist and political commentator Timothy Kalyegira is expected to appear before Kira Magistrates Court on Monday after days of uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts, with his lawyer confirming that he is facing charges under the Computer Misuse Act.

Kalyegira had not been seen since Friday, sparking concern among family members, neighbours, colleagues, and supporters after his phone reportedly went off and his whereabouts remained unknown throughout the weekend. On Monday morning, however, reports emerged that he had been taken to Kira Magistrates Court for arraignment.

Human rights lawyer Tumusiime Kato, who was at the court, confirmed that Kalyegira was facing charges related to content allegedly published on X.

“Colleagues, @TimKalyegira is now at Kira Magistrates Court on charges related to Computer Misuse. We should all stand in solidarity with him,” Kato posted on X.

In an earlier post, Kato said Kalyegira had arrived at the court and was expected to take plea “anytime soon.”

By press time, the specific social media posts forming the basis of the charges had not been publicly disclosed.

In recent months, Kalyegira has written extensively on political and security affairs, including commentary on Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and a series of high-profile military-related arrests.

Neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Judiciary had issued an official statement on his arrest or the charges by press time.

In March 2026, the Constitutional Court nullified key provisions of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, ruling that Parliament had passed the amendments without meeting the constitutional quorum required for legislation. The decision rendered those provisions void.

As a result, only the original Computer Misuse Act of 2011 remains in force, covering offences such as hacking, unauthorised access, electronic fraud, and other cybercrime-related offences.

Kalyegira is widely recognised for his political analysis and commentary on governance, security, and current affairs.

This is not his first encounter with the criminal justice system. In 2010 and 2011, he was charged with sedition and criminal libel over articles published on his platform, including commentary related to the July 2010 Kampala bombings. Those charges were dismissed in 2015.

His latest prosecution has already attracted attention from digital rights advocates and members of the media, with some expressing concern over the continued use of the Computer Misuse Act in cases involving online commentary and freedom of expression.

Court proceedings at Kira Magistrates Court are ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.