Uganda’s Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, has ordered an immediate stop to arrests and prosecutions under key sections of the Computer Misuse Act (2023).
This follows a landmark Constitutional Court ruling declaring parts of the law null and void due to Parliament’s failure to meet quorum requirements during its passage.
Key points:
Nullified sections: 11, 23, 26–29 of the Computer Misuse Act and Section 162 of the Penal Code.
All ongoing and future prosecutions under these provisions are to cease immediately.
Convicted individuals under these provisions are not automatically released; separate legal remedies are required.
The ruling highlights procedural lapses in lawmaking and reinforces the importance of due process.
The Attorney General recommends returning the law to Parliament for reconsideration with proper procedures and public participation.
Rights advocates view this as a critical reset in balancing digital regulation with freedom of expression under Uganda’s Constitution (Article 29).
This decision temporarily leaves a legal gap in regulating online conduct, prompting debates on how to enforce cyber laws while protecting constitutional rights.
