The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Hudson Ngotowa, a supporter of Mbale Woman Member of Parliament, Connie Galiwango is in trouble for offensive communication.
He was picked up from his home in Bulambuli district on Saturday and held briefly at Mbale Central Police station where he was charged with four counts of offensive communication under the computer misuse act 2011.
The case is registered under CRB 1597/2019. Information obtained by Police indicates that Ngotowa posted messages on different WhatsApp groups abusing Nakayenze’s rival, Lydia Wanyoto.
“We have rejected you Lydia, go back to Somalia and sell bullets and guns” reads one of the posts. According to police, Ngotowa posted the messages on IUIU youth Forum on August, 24th 2019, Elgon Voice on August 28th, 2019 and NRM media Panelist between 1st-4, September 2019.
John Robert Tukei, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, says they have forwarded the suspect’s file to the Resident State Attorney for sanctioning.
Ngotowa has denied allegations of insulting Wanyoto, saying he was only replying to a post by Wanyoto’s supporter Rogers Wandulu on WhatsApp.
The Mbale Woman MP, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango told journalists that the arrest of her supporter is politically motivated with intentions of intimidating them into silence. Wanyoto hasn’t yet commented as she never picked nor returned calls from our reporter.
Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011 provides “any person who willfully and repeatedly uses 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 misdemeanor and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty four currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both”.
*****
URN
