By Mulengera Reporters
Drama unfolded at Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (5th March 2026) when a Senior Journalist Dean Lubowa Saava behind a controversial TikTok platform stood before the bench and admitted to spreading false allegations about the Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) Ann Twinomugisha Muhairwe, earning himself millions of shillings in fines after pleading guilty to nine criminal charges.
Saava, 42, a resident of Lungujja in Rubaga Division, Kampala, stunned the courtroom when he accepted all the charges brought against him over posts he made on his online platform “TV10 Gano Mazima.” The case was handled before Chief Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera, with Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka leading the prosecution alongside Jonathan Muwaganya, while lawyer Obadiah Kamukama appeared for Saava on private brief.
Before the charges were read, the magistrate asked the accused which language he was comfortable using during the proceedings. Saava chose English. The court then moved into the reading of the nine charges, which revolved around online communication breaches besides operating a broadcasting platform without a license.
Prosecutors told the court that between July and August 2025, Saava used his TikTok account “TV10 Gano Mazima” to publish and circulate information targeting Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government. In the videos and posts, Saava alleged that Muhairwe had solicited and received a bribe of Shs200 million from Kaabong District Engineer Daniel Lokong in order not to close a road construction project in the district.
The prosecution said Saava went further and claimed that the alleged bribe money was collected by Savio Ntensibe Kakooza, whom he described as the personal assistant to the deputy IGG, before it was delivered to her. Saava also published statements alleging that Muhairwe was involved in wetland grabbing schemes, including one in the Munyonyo area.
However, investigators who looked into the claims found them to be false. Court heard that there was no road construction project in Kaabong District under investigation by the Office of the President that would have required the deputy IGG to intervene or shut it down. Investigations also revealed that there had been no contact between Engineer Daniel Lokong and Savio Ntensibe Kakooza concerning any bribe.
Further findings presented in court showed that Kakooza had never been the personal assistant to the deputy IGG as claimed in the social media broadcasts. Instead, he was serving as Director of Ombudsman Affairs at the Inspectorate of Government. Investigators also established that Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe had never solicited or received any bribe and that there was no evidence linking her to any wetland grabbing activities.
The prosecution also revealed another key offence: Saava had been operating his online television platform without authorization from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). His broadcasts were therefore being carried out without a valid broadcasting license.
As the charges were read one by one in court, the magistrate asked the accused if he understood them and whether they were true. Saava responded “Yes” each time, calmly admitting the offences. He accepted the charges of malicious information and hate speech relating to statements he published about the deputy IGG, Savio Ntensibe Kakooza and the Kaabong District engineer. He also admitted the offence of broadcasting without a license.
Following the admissions, the prosecution informed the court that Saava had entered into a plea bargain agreement with the state.
Under the agreement, the accused accepted the charges and the facts presented by the prosecution and agreed to the proposed sentencing arrangement. Defense lawyer Obadiah Kamukama confirmed that Saava had been fully informed of his constitutional rights before agreeing to the plea bargain and signing the document.
Chief Magistrate Basemera questioned Saava directly in court to confirm whether he had voluntarily accepted the agreement. Saava told the court that he understood his rights, including the right to remain silent and the presumption of innocence, and that he had willingly signed the plea bargain agreement. He confirmed that he appended his signature on each page of the document in the presence of his lawyer.
After reviewing the plea bargain and questioning the accused, the magistrate ruled that Saava had knowingly and voluntarily given up his constitutional rights and accepted responsibility for the offences. The court then convicted him on his own plea of guilty.
In her sentencing, the magistrate ordered Saava to pay a fine of Shs600,000 on each of the first eight counts or else face three years in prison on each count. For the ninth count of broadcasting without a license, he was fined Shs300,000 or six months imprisonment. In total, the fines amount to Shs5.1 million.
The court directed that the fines run consecutively, meaning Saava must pay each of them separately, while any custodial sentences would run concurrently.
Under the plea bargain agreement, Saava was also ordered to immediately delete all defamatory publications about the victims from his social media accounts. In addition, he must publish a public apology in local newspapers of New Vision and Bukedde Paper of wide circulation within one month.
The magistrate used the moment to warn about the misuse of media platforms. She urged content creators and members of the media to use their platforms constructively and responsibly rather than using them to destroy reputations.
Outside the courtroom, Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe addressed journalists and welcomed the court’s decision. She said the ruling had cleared her name and restored the truth about the allegations that had circulated online.
Muhairwe said the case was important not only for her personal reputation but also for public servants who face false accusations while performing their duties. She encouraged government officials who are defamed to seek justice through the courts rather than remaining silent.
She said silence in the face of false accusations damages both individuals and the institutions they serve, adding that going to court allows the truth to come out and restores public trust. Muhairwe also said that although it was painful to learn about the people behind the allegations, she had chosen to forgive them.
With the court’s decision now delivered, Saava should be able to walk to freedom as soon as the Shs5.1m is paid as directed by court. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
