The State Prosecutor in the hearing of four counts of malicious information contrary to Section 28 (1) and (2) of the Computer Misuse Act, Cap 96 against lawyer Male Mabirizi, Mr Richard Birivumbuka has revealed that the state has withdrawn the charges against the maverick lawyer.
On Wednesday, Birivumbuka told Buganda Road magistrates court that the state dropped the charges following the recent Constitutional Court ruling that declared the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, null and void after Parliament passed the law in violation of constitution.
However, the prosecution slapped three new charges against Mabirizi including two counts of publishing false information contrary to Regulation 110(e) of the Uganda Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2019 and one count of broadcasting without a license, contrary to Sections 28(1) and (2) of the Uganda Communications Act.
Prosecution told court that on the first count that in January 2026, Mabirizi used his TikTok account (@male.mabirizi), accessed through an Airtel Uganda SIM card, to publish an audio-visual news story in which he allegedly described Chief Justice Zeija as a conman, a fraudster, corrupt, a file grabber and claimed he had sold property to pay a bribe to secure his appointment as Principal Judge – statements the State says are false.
The second count accuses Mabirizi of publishing another audio-visual clip on the same platform in which he allegedly referred to Justice Ssekaana as a conman and a fraudster.
Prosecution further alleged on the third count that during the same period, Mabirizi used his Tik Tok account to broadcast content without authorization from the Uganda Communications Commission.
However Mabirizi has refused to take plea against the new charges, prompting court to defer hearing of the case until April 15th when Mabirizi will appear before the same court to respond to the charges.
In February, Buganda Road court charged and remanded lawyer Mabirizi over alleged Tik Tok posts targeting Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija and Court of Appeal Justice Musa Ssekaana.
