A Congolese TikTok content creator has been arrested after he filmed himself wielding a panga and storming a restaurant in Munyonyo — a stunt that police say caused real panic among diners and violated public safety laws.
The incident, which was captured in a now-viral video, took place at Chez Boss Mutoto, a popular restaurant in Kampala’s upscale Munyonyo suburb.
Initially believed to be a genuine attack, the footage shows a man brandishing a machete and threatening patrons, prompting alarm both at the scene and online.
However, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patrick Onyango, later clarified that the video was not an actual criminal event, but a poorly executed comedy skit staged without the knowledge or consent of restaurant patrons.
“The skit was conducted in a public setting without informing or seeking consent from customers, which caused fear and unnecessary panic,” SSP Onyango said in a statement on Wednesday.
Police identified the man in the video as Tokosi Ngoli, a Congolese national and TikTok performer known for his comedic content.
He was arrested and charged with being armed in public — a charge stemming from the possession of a panga in a manner likely to alarm or endanger the public.
His case file has been forwarded to the State Attorney for further legal action.
Ngoli’s stunt appears to follow a growing trend among content creators who stage outlandish pranks on unsuspecting members of the public in pursuit of viral fame.
The style has been popularised by African TikTokers such as Jose Ángel Napi Ondo, the Equatorial Guinean comedian known online as Napi Official, who rose to fame for his chaotic public pranks and bold antics — including pretending to eat food off strangers’ plates.
But while such content may generate millions of views, authorities warn that it crosses legal and ethical boundaries when it causes alarm, distress, or public disorder.
“We want to reassure the public that the incident does not represent a real threat, but we also advise content creators to be responsible and sensitive to their environment. The misuse of social media to propagate fear under the guise of entertainment is unacceptable,” SSP Onyango said.
Police have cautioned that future acts involving the use of weapons or simulated violence in public spaces — even for comedic or dramatic purposes — will be prosecuted.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting public order while encouraging creative expression that respects the safety, rights, and peace of all citizens.