By KT Reporter
A 27-year-old TikToker, Briton Kasule—also known as Christian Sythn—has been arrested after sharing a viral video in which he bragged about illegally reconnecting electricity to his home and offering to assist his neighbours in doing the same.
Kasule, a resident of Busega on the outskirts of Kampala, was apprehended in a joint operation by the Uganda Police and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), working closely with other energy sector agencies.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Ibrahim Kasita, Principal Stakeholder Engagement Officer at the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), confirmed the arrest and said Kasule would be charged with tampering with electricity infrastructure—a serious offense under the Electricity Act.
Kasita emphasized that unauthorized reconnections and tampering with meters or power lines directly undermines national enforcement efforts to protect electricity infrastructure. He warned that such offenses under Section 88 of the Electricity Act attract a penalty of up to 12 years in prison upon conviction.
In addition, Kasita pointed out that individuals undertaking electrical installations without a permit from ERA’s Installation Permits Committee are also breaking the law, an offense punishable by up to two years imprisonment.
Kasule’s arrest is the latest in a string of cases involving TikTokers whose content creation has run afoul of the law.
Recently, a Congolese national, identified as Tokosi-Ngoli, was arrested after a TikTok video went viral showing him threatening customers with a machete at a popular restaurant in Munyonyo. The video triggered widespread alarm on social media, initially believed to be footage of a real attack.
However, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango later clarified that the incident was part of a poorly executed comedy skit recorded without the knowledge or consent of the customers involved.
In another alarming case last week, an unidentified TikToker was captured perched precariously on a wooden chair atop a moving taxi (registration number UAZ 910B), in a stunt near Nsambya traffic lights.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the TikToker had allegedly paid UGX 20,000 to the taxi driver and conductor to facilitate the dangerous content. The driver and conductor have since been arrested and charged with carrying a person in a dangerous manner, contrary to Section 117 (1) & (2) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act (Cap. 347).
Authorities continue to caution content creators against violating the law under the guise of entertainment, warning that reckless behaviour on social media platforms will be met with strict enforcement action.
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