Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded maverick lawyer, Hassan Male Mabirizi over hate speech.
Mabirizi, who was arrested on Tuesday was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa and charges related to hate speech and malicious information against Justice Musa Ssekaana and newly appointed Chief Justice, Dr.Flavian Zeija read for him.
Prosecution led by Chief State Attorney Joan Keko and Richard Birivumbuka told court that last month, at various areas in Uganda including Kampala and Wakiso district, Mabirizi using his TikTok account @MaleMabirizi said the current chief justice is a conman, fraudster, corrupt and sold off his property to pay a bribe for his appointment as Principle Judge and a court file grabber.
He is also accused of saying that Justice Musa Ssekaana is a conman and fraudster, which information, the state says is false and likely to ridicule , degrade and demean the judge.
Proceedings
There was drama in court when the charges were read and Mabirizi declined to take plea( accept or deny the charges) saying he knew the chief magistrate with whom he said had issues.
He however, later accepted to take plea after consulting his lawyers led by Uganda Law Society Vice President Anthony Asiimwe.
Mabirizi denied the charges and was remanded to Luzira until February 18.
The maverick lawyer was previously jailed and jailed 18 months for contempt of court.