Following the arrest the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Hon Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, with negligence that may cause the spread of COVID-19.
According to the police charge sheet, Kyagulanyi Robert who is currently detained at Nalufenya is to be charged with doing an act likely to spread infectious disease contrary to section 171 of the Penal Code Act.
Kyagulanyi was arrested today morning in Luuka District where he was supposed to conduct campaign meetings ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Police noted that Kyagulanyi and others at large, knowingly or having reason to believe that it was likely to spread an infectious disease, mobilized and addressed a campaign rally of more than 200 people in Luuka district who were not respecting SOPs set by the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Health.
Authorities in Uganda, recently set a limit of 200 people as the maximum number of people to attend a public meeting up from 70 as a measure to minimise cases of Coronavirus infections in the country.
However, the directive has been abused by politicians both from the ruling and opposition camps as the country is readying for presidential, parliamentary and Local Government elections due in January next year.
Kyagulanyi is campaigning to unseat the incumbent President Museveni who has led the country for the last 35 years. If Museveni wins another term, he will be likely to extend his stay in power to 40 years.
According to Kyagulanyi’s lawyer Anthony Wameli, Kyagulanyi is planning to petition the High Court tomorrow over continued brutality meted by security agents on his supporters and himself.
Wameli says Kyagulanyi wants court to declare the blocking of kyagulanyi’s campaign meetings as an act of segregation against him, violates his freedom of expression and to issue an order against the act.
He said Kyagulanyi’s team is on standby to ensure that Kyagulanyi’s bail is secured in case the state chooses to produces him (Kyagulanyi) in court this evening.