KAMPALA, UGANDA: Police have arrested TikToker Ken Mukalakasa over allegations of sodomy involving a minor, in a case that has triggered public outrage and renewed debate over the handling of serious criminal offences.
Mukulakasa was picked up on Tuesday, March 24, after a visit to the Youth and Children Affairs State Minister, Hon Balaam Barugahara, to seek forgiveness turned otherwise and got him handed over to the Central Police Station in Kampala as investigations into the 2018 incident intensify.
According to Deputy Police Spokesperson SSP Diana Nandawula, detectives are still establishing critical details surrounding the case before deciding on formal charges. “We have to record the victim’s statement and establish whether the matter was reported at the time or if the suspect fled after the alleged offence,” Nandawula said.
The case is being handled by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), with forensic and testimonial evidence expected to guide the next course of action.
The case, however, initially drew public attention after reports emerged that Mukalakasa had been taken to Minister Balaam Barugahara to seek forgiveness with a possibility of walking away without involving the police authorities.
However, Barugahara, in a Wednesday X post, firmly denied allegations that he forgave or released the suspect, saying his role was limited to guidance and referral. “I clearly informed him that I do not have the authority to forgive, investigate, or pass judgment on such matters, as per the Constitution,” Barugahara said in a statement.
He explained that Mukalakasa, accompanied by relatives, appeared at his office seeking forgiveness over the alleged actions. “I offered counsel, issued a caution, and immediately referred the matter to the relevant authorities for proper investigation and handling,” he added.
The minister emphasized that the suspect remains in police custody and urged the public to disregard claims suggesting otherwise.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with a focus on gathering evidence and ensuring due process, and called on the public to allow law enforcement agencies to handle the matter professionally as inquiries continue.
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