Prison Officer Sacked for Anti-Museveni Remarks on Social Media

A Ugandan prison officer, Lawrence Ampe, has been dismissed from the Uganda Prisons Service after posting TikTok videos that criticised President Yoweri Museveni’s government and his senior officers. 

Authorities say his actions amounted to gross indiscipline and violated the rules that govern public servants.

Ampe, a young warder, had gained attention on social media for openly speaking about governance issues in Uganda. In several TikTok videos, he accused President Museveni’s administration of exploiting poverty to remain in power.

He claimed that many people attend ruling party rallies mainly to receive food and handouts rather than out of genuine political support. His videos quickly spread online and attracted both praise and criticism.

According to an official communication released on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Uganda Prisons Council resolved to dismiss Ampe from service with effect from December 9, 2025.

The statement instructed his supervisors to ensure that he hands over all government property in his possession. The council said a formal dismissal letter would follow, but the directive was to be treated as urgent.

Prisons authorities explained that Ampe’s social media activity breached the Public Service Code of Conduct and the Uganda Prisons Service Standing Orders. 

Specifically, they cited rules that bar public officers from speaking to the media or commenting on official government matters without permission from their superiors.

Officials argued that discipline in the prisons service requires obedience to authority and respect for the chain of command.

He further accused some of his immediate bosses of being involved in human rights abuses against inmates and fellow prison officers. These claims, according to the Prisons Service, damaged the image of the institution and undermined internal discipline.

The dismissal has sparked debate both online and offline. Some Ugandans argue that Ampe was exercising his right to free speech and raising genuine concerns affecting ordinary citizens.

Others believe that as a uniformed officer, he was bound by strict rules and should have used internal channels to air his grievances instead of social media.