A TikToker who was arrested days ago for celebrating the death of former security minister Gen Elly Tumwin has today been arraigned in court and remanded.
Tracy Naluboowa aka Tracy Manule Bobiholic, got in trouble over a video of her celebrating Gen Tumwine’s death.
A staunch supporter of National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, Nalubowa is aged 27.
A resident of Nsimbi Zone in Kyebando, Kampala, Nalubowa is accused of publishing offensive content in which she allegedly celebrated Gen Tumwine’s death and reportedly disturbed the peace of Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, Uganda’s ruler since 1986.
She is said to have made the publication of the content while at Ndeeba, Lubaga Division in Kampala on August 23, 2022.
When she appeared in court today, Nalubowa had no lawyer to represent her. She left those in attendance at Buganda Road Court when she told Magistrate Marion Mangeni that she does not remember making the statements she is accused of uttering since she was drunk at the time the alleged offensive content was sent out to the public.
She was charged with offensive communication under Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act.
Nalubowa pleaded not guilty to the charges of offensive communication as slapped against her.
She was then remanded to Luzira Prison after prosecution led by state prosecutor Ivan Kyazze told the temple of justice that investigations into the NUP TikToker case were yet to be concluded.
Nalubowa will now return to court on September 26, 2022 for mention of her case. Her party is expected to send her a lawyer to defend her and, most likely, apply for bail for that the TikToker can be released.
Shortly after Nalubowa was charged with offensive communication and remanded to Luzira Prison, NUP boss Bobi Wine complained about the rushed arraignment of his supporter, who has reportedly been under security detention for nearly a fortnight.
After 13 days of incommunicado detention, our comrade Tracy Bobiholic was smuggled into Court this afternoon in the absence of lawyers and sent to Luzira Prison. Charged with offensive communication,” wrote the singer-turned-politician.
“We’re yet to speak to her and understand what they did to her in detention.”
It should be remembered that some people, considered heartless by government and its officials, celebrated Gen Elly Tumwine’s death, largely over his 2020 statement that police could shoot and kill provocative protesters.
One of those who was accused of celebrating Gen Tumwine’s death was Kira Municipality MP and opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
MP Ssemujju left many in shock when he said that Gen Tumwine behaved as if he had a contract with God that he would live forever. But some of Tumwine’s friends fired back at Ssemujju who also hit back saying he did not care what they would say about him when he finally dies. (Read Stories Here and There).
Meanwhile, amidst all this ‘heartless’ celebration of their father’s death, Gen Elly Tumwine’s children begged Ugandans to forgive the fallen general. (Read Story Here).
During the burial ceremony in Kazo District, Minister Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire described Ugandans celebrating Gen Elly Tumwine’s death as fools, saying it was only stupid people who would quarrel with a dead body. (Read Story Here).
