Controversial Ugandan lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi has been charged and remanded to prison over remarks in which he allegedly referred to Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija as a conman.
The 39-year-old appeared before Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ritah Kidasa on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, where the charges were formally read to him.
Mabirizi faces:
Two counts of malicious information contrary to Section 28(1) and (2) of the Computer Misuse Act.
Two counts of hate speech contrary to Section 26(1)(a) and (2) of the same law.
According to the charge sheet, Mabirizi is accused of referring to Chief Justice Zeija and Court of Appeal Judge Musa Ssekaana as conmen who allegedly bribed their way into the Judiciary.
Mabirizi denied all the charges and was subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison until February 18, when he is expected to return to court for the hearing of his bail application.
Prosecution alleges that in January 2026, at various locations including Kampala and Wakiso district, Mabirizi used a computer through his TikTok account (@malemabirizi) to send and share content describing Justice Zeija as a conman, fraudster and corrupt individual, claiming he sold property to raise money for a bribe.
The prosecution maintains that the statements are false, defamatory and intended to damage the reputation of the judicial officers.