A fresh political storm is brewing after Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo announced plans to petition the Parliament of Uganda to regulate TikTok operations in the country â a move already dividing public opinion.
Namyalo, who heads the Kyambogo office of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), revealed that a formal petition has been drafted and will be tabled once Parliament resumes sittings.
Speaking with visible frustration, Namyalo accused TikTok of becoming a breeding ground for misinformation, defamation, and what she called âconcocted human intelligenceâ designed to tarnish reputations and destabilize society.
âWe need to regulate TikTok. We have written a document, and as soon as Parliament starts operating, we are going to present it to seek justice,â she declared.
According to Namyalo, the push is not about silencing government critics but about restoring accountability in digital spaces increasingly dominated by anonymous attacks and unverified claims.
âYou canât govern a country basing on concocted human intelligence meant to tarnish and damage the struggle in society just because someone wants to prove a point,â she argued.
She emphasized that several TikTokers are already battling court cases linked to alleged malicious communication and defamatory content targeting prominent figures â a trend she says proves the platform has gone unchecked for too long.
âWe are going to run the talk of justice to eliminate concocted human intelligence because justice delayed is justice denied. We have families, we have children,â Namyalo added.
In one of her most pointed remarks, she criticized individuals who hide behind pseudonyms to attack others online.
âWe have a category of individuals that lie behind other peopleâs dirty petticoats. So we have to explore and roar to the fullest â using justice, using the law.â
TikTok has experienced explosive growth in Uganda, particularly among youth, influencers, and political commentators. It has become a powerful arena for social commentary, whistleblowing, satire, and political mobilization.
However, critics argue that regulation could easily morph into censorship. Civil society voices warn that tighter controls risk shrinking civic space and undermining freedom of expression, especially in a country where digital platforms have previously faced restrictions and taxation measures.
Supporters of Namyaloâs proposal, on the other hand, insist that unregulated digital speech has caused irreparable reputational harm, fueled tensions, and encouraged character assassination for clicks and clout.
The looming petition is expected to ignite heated debate within Parliament and across social media platforms â ironically, including TikTok itself.
As Uganda wrestles with the digital age dilemma, the core question remains: Is regulating TikTok a step toward justice and accountability â or the beginning of a dangerous slide toward online suppression?
The battle lines are already drawn.
