On the evenings of December 12, 2020, Omah Lay and Tems had performed at The Big Brunch, which held at Speke Resort, Wavamunno road, Kampala, Uganda.
The news was broken by Ugandan journalist, Canary Mugume. He had allegedly confirmed the information from Luk Owoyesigyire, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Deputy Police Spokesperson, Kampala Metropolitan Police.
Then within the afternoon of December 14, 2020, information broke that that they had been charged to court.
In a chat with a source near the occasions in Uganda, Pulse Nigeria gathered {that a} breach of COVID-19-related restrictions is why the three Nigerians face some dire consequences in East Africa.
A lot has been made in regards to the arrest, however the query on lots of lips is, ‘Why have the Nigerians been arrested?’
On December 13, 2020, the Ugandan Police launched the next assertion;
Ugandan Police arrests Omah Lay and Tems. [Facebook/UgandanPolice]
Why have Omah Lay and Tems been charged?
Two tweets by the verified Twitter account of the Ugandan Police reveals that, “The Nigerian trio of Stanley Omah Didia alias Omah Lay, Temilade Openyi alias Tems and Muyiwa Awomiyi have been charged to court in Makindye on charges of Negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious diseases C/S 171 of the Penal Code Act.
“The earlier plans of releasing them on police bond, were suspended after their casefile was sanctioned by the Office of the DPP. They were jointly charged with four other Ugandans. All remanded till Wednesday 16.12.2020.”
Did Omah Lay and Tems commit an offence?
Sure.
Section 171 of the Ugandan Penal Code 1950 provides that, “Any person who unlawfully or negligently does any act which is and which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”
Arguments are going to state that Omah Lay and Tems had been only artists and the organizers of the occasion ought to be held accountable and they’re. Within the press release of December 13, Bejamin Kubara, the organizer of the event, Ivan Ddungu, supervisor of the concert and Prim Kasana, the occasion centre supervisor had been additionally arrested and charged.
The Ugandan government will probably argue that despite the fact that Omah Lay, Tems and Muyiwa Awoniyi did not manage the occasion, they’re the main attraction of the occasion who ought to have additionally been cognizant of COVID-19 restrictions.
COVID-19 restrictions in Uganda
On March 18, 2020, President Yoweri Museveni banned all incoming and outgoing journey to specified extremely affected counties for 32 days. Faculties had been additionally closed and public gatherings banned.
The results of COVID-19 on the Ugandan financial system have been so extreme that on August 17, 2020, a research carried out by Giga Hamburg revealed that many informal entrepreneurs in Kampala had no revenue in any respect through the lockdown, and therefore needed to dip into their very own savings, rely on government food support, or ask for help from family or friends to survive.
Events and repression in Uganda
Uganda isn’t alone in its fears of COVID-19. A couple of weeks ago, Pulse Nigeria wrote an article about the state of ‘Detty December’ events in Lagos. Whereas Nigeria permits managed occasions, Ugandan authorities have been strict as regards COVID-19 guidelines.
Nonetheless, Nigerians now worry the wrath of the Uganda authorities as regards their kin. On November 20, 2020 Human Rights Watch reported that Ugandan authorities had weaponized Covid-19 for repression.
Over the past few years, the federal government has additionally publicly victimized artist-turned-politician, Bobi Wine.
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