Winnie Karagwa Byanyima, wife to four-time presidential aspirant Dr Kizza Besigye has tasked the government to explain why Swaibu Nsamba Gwogyolonga, the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC chairperson for Katikamu South Constituency in Luweero district has been arrested over a social media post.
Byanyima who is considering running for President in 2021 asked on social media which crime Mr. Gwogyolonga had commited by making a social media post with president, Yoweri Museveni in it.
The Executive Director Oxfam International and former Mbarara Municipality MP, made the inquiry on Tuesday via networking website, Twitter.
Nsamba was picked up by Police detectives from Wobulenzi town council over the weekend and detained briefly at Wobulenzi Police station before he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters at Kibuli.
He was interrogated by Bill Dickson Ndyamuhaki, the Acting Police Commissioner of Electronic Counter Measures Department on Monday and was charged with offensive communication contrary to section (25) of the Computer Misuse act 2011.
He was released on police bond on Monday afternoon and ordered to return on Thursday December 15th when he is expected to appear before court over the charges. Police also confiscated Nsamba’s phone as part of the exhibit in the case.
Trouble for Nsamba stemmed from his Facebook post expressing how he will announce and mourn the death of president, Yoweri Museveni when he dies. The post was accompanied with a Photoshop of Museveni and how will look after his demise. Nsamba says the charges against him infringe on his freedom of expression.
Mr Nsamba has been using his Facebook account to critique and attack President Museveni, however we could not locate this specific post.
Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, the Chief Executive Officer Unwanted Witness Uganda, a civil society organization, which seeks to promote secure uncensored online platforms has condemned the arrest of Nsamba.
He describes the charges against Nsamba as vague and a threat to freedom of thought and expression. He also disclosed their plans to challenge the Computer Misuse Act 2011 in court, saying it is offensive to Chapter Four of the Constitution and promotes self-censorship.
In May this year, Police arrested Henry Mutyaba and Robert Darius Tweyambe, both residents of Kampala for allegedly circulating a photo on Facebook claiming that Museveni is dead. The duo was charged with demeaning the person of President and charged with computer misuse. Their case is yet to be concluded.
(Agencies)
