Police block Dr Besigye from accessing detained Dr Nyanzi
Former presidential contender Dr Kizza Besigye (L) at Kira Divisional Police Headquarters in Wakiso District where he had gone to visit detained Makerere University research fellow Dr Stella Nyanzi. Photo by Alex Esagala
What you need to know:
- Using sexual innuendos, Dr Nyanzi has for the past two weeks been posting strongly worded messages on her Facebook Wall criticizing government policies.
- Section 25 provides for a one-year prison sentence or a fine not exceeding Shs480,000 or both, for offensive communication.
A group of Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) members led by Dr Kizza Besigye have been denied access to Dr Stella Nyanzi at Kira Divisional Police headquarters where she is being held. Dr Nyanzi, a Makerere University research fellow was arrested on Friday night at Mackinnon Suites Hotel in Nakasero, Kampala over cyber harassment charges contrary to Section 24 of the Computer Misuse Act of 2011 and Offensive Communication offence contrary to Section 25 of the same law, according to police.
The section defines cyber harassment as the use of a computer for purposes of making any request, suggestion or proposal which is obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent; threatening to inflict injury or physical harm to the person or property of any person; or knowingly permit any electronic communications device to be used for any of the purposes mentioned in this section. Dr Besigye, a four time presidential contender on Monday morning arrived at the police station in company of other Opposition members who included Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Wafula Oguttu, the party’s secretary for mobilisation, Ms Ingrid Turinawe and Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye, among others. They were denied access to Dr Nyanzi by Kira Divisional Police DPC Richard Asiimwe. Mr Asiimwe told Dr Besigye and his group to wait until 2pm today if they wanted to see her.
From Left: Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, former LoP Wafula Oguttu, Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye at Kira Divisional police headquarters. Photo by Alex Esagala
He further told them to get information about Dr Nyanzi from Police public relations officer. Dr Besigye however insisted that they had visited Dr Nyanzi because they received information that her health was not good.
Police said Dr Nyanzi will be arraigned in court and charged accordingly although they did not state which court.
Earlier, city lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, one of the lawyers representing Dr Nyanzi said she had “suffered loss of consciousness and was paralysed from her waist down after the arrest.”
“She's thankfully getting better and in good spirit,” he said.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze blocked from seeing Makerere University reaserach fellow Dr Stella Nyanzi at Kiria Divisional Police headquarters where she's being detained. Photo by Alex Esagala
Using sexual images, Dr Nyanzi has for the past two weeks been posting strongly worded messages on her Facebook wall criticizing government policies. One of her messages took a swipe at the Education minister Janet Museveni, who is the First Lady. In response on March 30, the first Lady was forced to break the silence where she granted an interview to NTV, a sister media house saying she had forgiven the social media critic.
"I have received reports about Dr Stella Nyanzi insulting me. I want to tell Ugandans that I forgive her," she said.
Dr Nyanzi hit back saying that instead of offering to forgive her, the minister should fix the problems the government she serves, headed by her husband, President Museveni has failed to address.
