Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a hate speech case against TikToker Ibrahim Musana, popularly known as Pressure24/7, after the state failed to produce witnesses for more than a year.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday morning, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi said the prolonged absence of prosecution witnesses had left the court with no choice but to strike out the case.
“The prosecution has had ample time to present its witnesses but has failed to do so. This court cannot continue to keep the accused on endless trial without progress. The case is hereby dismissed,” Kayizzi ruled.
Musana, a controversial online personality, was arrested in 2023 and charged with hate speech over his videos that authorities said targeted public figures and communities with offensive remarks. The state alleged that his content incited hatred and threatened social harmony.
However, since the case was filed, the prosecution reportedly failed to bring forward any witnesses to substantiate the allegations, despite several adjournments granted by the court.
Speaking after the ruling, Musana expressed relief, saying the case had disrupted his life and career for too long. “I thank the court for finally ending this. I have always maintained my innocence, and now I can continue creating content freely,” he told journalists outside the courtroom.
Legal analysts say the dismissal underscores persistent challenges in the handling of cybercrime and online speech cases, particularly the state’s capacity to marshal credible evidence.
The case had drawn wide attention, with some critics accusing authorities of attempting to silence online critics through prolonged court processes.
With the dismissal, Musana walks free, though questions remain over how Uganda’s justice system will handle similar cases in the future.