Police in Luwero District have traced and arrested Jamilu Ssekyondwa, 25, a NUP activist they have alleged to have masterminded the circulating of falsified news regarding President Museveni’s death.
Ssekyondwa, a resident of Kabuyata village was arrested from Kamira Sub County in Luweero district after a security track down on his WhatsApp messages.
The arrest comes moments after President Museveni bitterly directed security to trace and arrest those who have been using social media to spread fake news about his death.
Jamil Ssekyondwa accused of spreading Museveni ‘death’ news being taken to Luweero CPS for custody
The DPC, Patrick Maikula says the suspect his being held at Luweero CPS pending prosecution in the courts of law. He further said that the other whatsapp group members are still at large and the suspect could further be charged for the offence of Cyber Harassment contrary to section 24(1), (2) (a) of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011. “We are tracing for the other WhatsApp group members,” the DPC said. “The entire clique must be arrested and charged,” he added.
A mobile text allegedly sent by the suspect Ssekyondwa
It should be recalled that the constitutional court decriminalized the spreading of false news during the Andrew Mwenda, Charles Onyango Obbo case versus Attorney general. In the verdict, court ruled that the spreading of false news is not criminal in Uganda.
