‘It is Police responsible for the arrest of Stella Nyanzi’- Kale Kayihura

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura has said that if anyone is to be blamed for the arrest of embattled Makerere University research fellow Dr. Stella Nyanzi, it should be him since he was doing his job as a law enforcement officer.

According to Kayihura, he takes full responsibility for the arrest of Dr. Nyanzi and he is ready for any kind of criticism 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 yesterday at Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Headquarters in Bugolobi.

Kayihura stated that even if the First Lady came out openly and forgave Nyanzi, as police they could not sit back and watch someone disrespecting others like that most especially the President and his wife adding that police had to put her to book.

“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.

Further, he confirmed that police has agreed with UCC to track down other people who abuse social media.
“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.