Police have arrested Pastor Augustine Yiga of Revival Church Kawala, Rubaga Division in Kampala over misleading utterances relating to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
In a statement released today, Kampala Metropolitan Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed Pastor Yiga’s arrest.
Yiga’s arrest followed an appeal by the PS Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine asking police to arrest and prosecute Pastor Yiga who she accused of referring the Coronavirus pandemic is a hoax.
In a TV boadcast on ABS TV which he owns, Pastor Yiga is alleged to have said that there is no Corona Virus in Uganda.
“The video that went viral undermines government efforts in fighting the COVID 19 pandemic and exposes the public to dangers of laxity in observing the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health on its control and prevention,” Mr Onyango said, adding that the action of Pastor Yiga promotes the spread of the COVID 19.
Pastor Yiga who is currently detained at Old Kampala Police Station, will be interviewed to “establish the motive behind the dangerous utterances.’
In an interview with NBS TV on Saturday evening, Onyango said Yiga violated section 171 of the Penal Code Act, and police has already collected evidence against him including video recordings of the broadcast.
By Saturday evening, Uganda had reported 23 confirmed cases of coronavirus while hundreds of samples are still under investigation for possible infections.