TikToker Pressure further remanded, complains about blood samples

TikToker Ibrahim Musana also known as Pressure 24/7 has complained to Buganda Road Magistrate’s court that he was subjected to the extraction of blood samples without his consent.

Musana who is facing charges of hate speech revealed this through his lawyers on Tuesday while in court where he had appeared to be informed on the progress of investigations into his case before chief magistrate Ronald Kayiizi. 

Prosecution states that between August 2023 and February 2024 in areas of Kampala district, while using a computer via his TikTok account, Pressure 24 Seven shared information which is likely to degrade or demean and promote hostility against four leaders including Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, President Yoweri Museveni, speaker of parliament  Annet Anita Among and state minister for Information Communication Technology (ICT) Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo.

One of his lawyers, Gideon Masamba, told the court that their client’s blood samples were extracted while in Luzira prison where he is on remand. He added that Pressure was later taken to the prison hospital and subjected to unknown treatment. Masamba said that the tests should have been done in the presence of his lawyers. 

The court also heard that the medical tests were carried out after three weeks on remand. This prompted the chief magistrate to inquire from Pressure whether he was sick or not, to which he answered in the negative. Upon inquiring from the prison authorities, the court heard that it is a requirement for all new prisoners to undergo medical tests to avoid the spread of diseases like tuberculosis among others. 

State attorney Ivan Kyazze told court that inquiries are almost complete and asked for 14 days as to when they will be complete. Pressure  was arraigned before the court but did not directly plead to the charges. He told the magistrate that he wasn’t aware that by posting such videos, he was committing an offence since he is psychologically unwell having been admitted to Butabiika National Referral Mental hospital some time back.

According to Pressure, he was being disturbed by the ‘spirits’ of Buganda’s dead kings who demanded him to repair their tombs but he was financially constrained. He dded that for two years he has been writing to Buganda kingdom informing them that he is a prince and the spirits are making such demands but he has not received any response.

He therefore pleaded to the court to forgive him with a promise to desist from attacking leaders and to delete all the hate speech content from TikTok. Kayizzi again remanded Pressure back to Luzira prison until April 11.