Lawrence Ampe: Uganda prison officer sacked for 'politicking' on TikTok

Ugandan law requires public servants to remain politically neutral and bars them from active politics.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationWatch DocumentariesTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveUganda prison officer sacked for 'politicking' on TikTok 1 day agoShareSaveSwaibu Ibrahim,BBC Africa, KampalaandWycliffe MuiaShareSaveAmpe/TikTokLawrence Ampe says he is using TikTok to expose misuse of power and corruptionA Uganda prison officer has been sacked for criticising the government on TikTok, in a rare move authorities said amounted to "gross indiscipline".

Lawrence Ampe had been under investigation over social media posts accusing senior government officials of corruption, human rights abuses and mistreatment of lower-ranking prison officers.

"The standing orders don't allow a public officer to participate in politics, which he is doing even now," prisons spokesman Frank Baine told the BBC, saying Ampe was sacked for "politicking in the wrong forum".

The opposition has condemned the move, describing it as evidence of "systemic oppression" and double standards within the security sector.

The officer shared the dismissal letter on his TikTok account with the caption: "I'm finally out free to support truth."