Court has restrained controversial 'pastor' Augustine Yiga from making any comments about coronavirus (COVID-19) disease on television, social media, radio, or make any other interviews.
The restraining order was one of the conditions Rubaga Magistrate's court set for Yiga the founder of Revival Christian Church in Kawaala while granting him bail today.
In his ruling, grade one magistrate Timothy Lumunye released Yiga on a non-cash bail of Shs 2 million. Prosecution alleges that on March 27, 2020, while at his Revival Christian Church in Kawaala, Kampala, and before reporters of several television stations, Yiga uttered words implying that there is no coronavirus in Uganda and Africa.
Yiga said there was no way Uganda's poor health care systems could successfully treat coronavirus patients, yet people are dying in thousands in advanced economies in America and Europe with advanced health care systems.
At the moment there are 3,686,963 coronavirus infections worldwide with 255,096 deaths. Of these, only 1,885 deaths and a total of 49,206 infections have been registered in Africa as of May 5 at the time of writing this story.
Uganda currently has 97 confirmed cases with 55 recoveries and zero deaths. Africa generally is the least affected continent in the world with the least number of infections and deaths related to coronavirus.
Yiga claimed then that what is being reported as positive coronavirus cases, is the 'usual flu', that many Africans have been suffering and recovering from since time memorial. He said in Africa and Uganda in particular, there was no need for lockdowns and curfews. Prosecution says Yiga's utterances are likely to fuel the spread of coronavirus, which is dangerous to life.
Today, Yiga appeared before court via video link from Kitalya government prison, where he has been locked up since March 28 when he was arrested. Yiga applied for bail through his lawyer, Wilberforce Kayiwa who argued that the ''pastor'' is diabetic and produced a letter from Lisa medical centre to prove his condition.
His sureties included Richard Kimbowa alias Kojja Kimbowa, a prominent herbalist and businessman Benson Kato. They each executed a non-cash bond of Shs 5 million.
The magistrate granted Yiga bail noting that being the founder of ABS TV and a businessman as well as his sureties residing within the court's jurisdiction, the charges against him are bailable and bail was his constitutional right.
The matter will return to court on June 25 for mention. Yiga was directed to comply with all the COVID-19 preventive directions on social distance, mandatory face masks, handwashing.
Prosecution tried to block the bail application, arguing that all the sureties presented by Yiga were businessmen and lack capacity to compel him to return to court when needed.
Source
