LUWEERO: Police in Luweero district have arrested and held for questioning a youth suspect for allegedly circulating falsified news regarding the death of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa.
The suspect is identified as Jamilu Ssekyondwa, 22, a youth suspect alleged to be a member of some political groups opposed to the government.
It is alleged that Ssekyondwa and others at large have been sharing messages of Museveni’s death in various whatsapp groups and other social media platforms declaring the death of the President.
On Thursday, President Museveni ordered security services to track down all individuals involved in peddling false news on social media something he called an idiotic problem.
“We need to solve this issue, it’s not a security issue but an idiotic problem.” Museveni commanded before adding;
“Social media has been saying Museveni is dead. The other day when I went to Bombo to lay a foundation stone of a Biological Drugs and mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility with my Brother H.E William Ruto, people were standing on the roadside wondering because they were told by social media that Museveni is dead.”
“Security should quickly investigate and follow-up individuals peddling false news on social media;” he added.
Hardly had the president ordered when security personnel in Luweero led by the acting District Police Commander Patrick Makula held an operation that tracked down Ssekyondwa.
According to DPC Makula, Ssekyondwa is currently being detained at Luweero police station and will among other group members be charged with offences of cyber harassment contrary to section 24 (1), (2) (a) of the computer misuse Act,2011.
