Attorney General directs halt to prosecutions under nullified provisions
Government will not appeal the Constitutional Court decision that struck down key provisions of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, and will instead return the law to Parliament for proper enactment.
In a letter dated March 18, 2026, the Attorney General Kiryoowa Kiwanuka advised that no appeal should be pursued in the consolidated petitions, following the court’s ruling that parts of the law were enacted in violation of parliamentary procedure.
The Attorney General instead recommends that the legislation be sent back to Parliament to address the procedural gaps identified by the court.
Provisions declared void
The Constitutional Court nullified sections 11, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2023 Edition, along with section 162 of the Penal Code Act, after finding they were passed without complying with Rule 24 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
A permanent injunction has since been issued barring government agencies, officials and authorities from enforcing the affected provisions.
Arrests and cases halted
The Attorney General’s guidance makes clear the immediate effect of the ruling.
All criminal proceedings arising from the nullified provisions are to be terminated, and no new arrests should be made under those sections.
However, individuals already convicted and serving sentences under the affected provisions will not be impacted by the decision.
Govt to bear part of legal costs
The court also ordered that government pays 30 percent of the petitioners’ legal costs, following the successful challenge brought by Alternative Digitalk Limited, Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda and the Uganda Law Society.
Other laws remain enforceable
Despite the ruling, the Attorney General clarified that the rest of the Computer Misuse Act and the Penal Code Act remain in force and can still be applied.
