Bad Black appears at CID headquarters for questioning over Bobi Wine video

Kampala city socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa popularly known as Bad Black arrives at CID headquarters, in the company of an unidentified man, for questining on February 25, 2019. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Police have lately intensified crackdown on social media users under the Computer Misuse Act, questioning or arresting as many as five in the past year, among them remanded former Makerere University researcher, Dr Stella Nyanzi and Mr Mulangira Hope Kaweesa, a Democratic Party supporter.

Kampala socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa, popularly known as Bad Black has appeared at the Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) for questioning over a video she posted online in which she makes serious allegations about a senior government official.
She posted the video on her Facebook page seven months ago, although police have just picked interest to inquire into the claims.
Bad Black on Monday appeared at CID headquarters in Kubuli, Kampala with her lawyers Julius Galisonga and Sam Muyizzi.

CID spokesman SP Vincent Ssekatte said she was supposed to appear on Wednesday (February 27) but she decided to come today.
"We have taken her to the officers for interrogation," he said.
The Force did not say who the complainant is in the case, but the local celebrity likely breached the Computer Misuse Act, according to detectives.

Mr Joseph Obwona, the deputy CID director, in a February 20 summons ordered Ms Namuyimbwa to report to CID headquarters without fail.
“We are investigating a case of offensive communication and criminal libel. You are, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 27A of the Police Act (as amended) required to report before acting Commissioner of Police [in charge of media department] at CID headquarters…without fail,” he wrote.
In the video, she is alleged to have hurled expletives at the senior official.

Bad Black made the statement as she was protesting the continued detention of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, who was arrested and taken into military custody last August for allegedly stoning President Museveni’s car in Arua.
She later used social media to apologise to the adversely named official and retracted the statements.

Social media misuse charged
Police have lately intensified crackdown on social media users under the Computer Misuse Act, questioning or arresting as many as five in the past year, among them remanded former Makerere University researcher, Dr Stella Nyanzi and Mr Mulangira Hope Kaweesa, a Democratic Party supporter.

According to Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 on offensive communication, “Any person who wilfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication whether or not a conversation ensues commits a misdemeanour and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty four currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”