By Watchdog reporter
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura has admitted that he ordered for the arrest of Makerere University Lecturer Dr. Stella Nyanzi.
Nyanzi was arrested last week after severely insulting the First Lady Janet Museveni and President Yoweri Museveni on several occasions.
According to Kayihura, he takes full responsibility for the arrest of Dr. Nyanzi and he is ready for any kind of criticism from some Ugandans but he cannot allow people like the academia to exhibit such kind of immorality in society.
The police boss said this while addressing the press on Tuesday at Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Headquarters in Bugolobi.
“If anyone is blaming us for Dr. Nyanzi’s arrest, you blame Kayihura I take the responsibility. Even if the First lady forgave her publicly, police has to do its job we cannot accept such behavior in our society,” said Kayihura.
The police chief also rubbished claims that the first Lady ordered for the arrest of the Makerere academician.
“We don’t need to be ordered by the First Lady. She came out in public and said she had forgiven her.”
Further, he confirmed that police has agreed with UCC to track down other people who abuse social media like Dr. Nyanzi.
“Police through its officers attached to UCC we are going to track down more people who misuse social media and they will face the consequences,” Kayihura warned.
Apparently Dr. Nyanzi is remanded to Luzira Prison after being charged with two counts including cyber harassment contrary to section 24 (1)(2)(a) of the Computer misuse Act 2011 and offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 on Monday.
In the first count, prosecution alleges that “Nyanzi on January 28, 2017 at Kampala District or thereabout used a computer to post on her Facbook page “Stella Nyanzi” wherein she made a suggestion or proposal referring to His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as among others “a pair of buttocks” which suggestion/ proposal is obscene or indecent.”
In the second count, prosecution states that Dr Nyanzi “between January 2017 and march 2017 in Kampala district willfully and repeatedly used electronic communication to post messages offensive in nature via Facebook, transmitted over the internet to disturb or attempted to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of his excellency the president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with no purpose of legitimate communication.
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