By; Rachael Najjuma
31st March 2020
Pastor Augustine Yiga the head of Revival Christian Church in Kawala Rubaga Division has been remanded to Kitalya prison for uttering a statement that is likely to fuel the spread of COVID19.
He appeared before Timothy Lumunye, the Rubaga Grade One Magistrate’s Court this afternoon where prosecution said that on March 27th 2020 while at his church and before several Television stations, Yiga claimed that there was no Corona virus in Uganda and Africa at large well knowing that such words are likely to spread infection of the disease,which is dangerous to life.
The said statement was aired by his ABS, BBS, Spark and Sanyuka Televisions. Yiga pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail through his lawyer, Wilberforce Kayiwa who told court that his client is a family man with eight children, soul bread winner of the family and suffers from diabetes. He also argued that the pastor needs a special diet, which can only be provided outside jail.
Kayiwa also argued that Yiga is a senior Pastor who needs to continue preaching the word of God.
Yiga presented three sureties including Jackie Babirye, an administrator at his church, and Pastors Ruth Mulungi and Simon Kabuye. However, the state prosecutor, Safinah Bireka opposed the bail application, saying the sureties didn’t have capacity to drag Yiga to court when he is needed because they are his juniors.
After hearing from both parties, Lumunye remanded Yiga to Kitalya prison until Monday next week. He also noted that he had realised that Yiga’s followers hadn’t observed the guidelines of social distancing as one of the measures to stop the spread of Corona virus since they filled up the court room.
Lumunye explained that to abide by the government’s preventive measures against the corona pandemic by avoiding congestion, he would send Yiga on remand to enable him write his ruling.
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