A controversial Ugandan Pastor who was locked up for claiming that there is no Coronavirus in Uganda and Africa at large is out on bail after spending 37 days on remand.
Pastor Augustine Yiga alias Abizaayo, the founder of Revival Christian Church in the Kampala city suburbs of Kawaala, appeared before the Rubaga Grade One Magistrate Timothy Lumunye via video link from Kitalya Minimax prisons for his bail hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
The court heard that on March 27th, 2020 while at his church, Pastor Yiga told journalists from various television stations that there is no Coronavirus in Uganda and Africa at large.
Prosecution told the court that the pastor made the statements well knowing that such words are likely to fuel the spread of the contagious Coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives globally.
Yiga pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail through his lawyers Wilberforce Kayiwa who argued that his client is diabetic and produced a letter from Lisa Medical Center to prove his condition.
Kayiwa also told court that the charges against Yiga are bailable and that he had a constitutional right to bail.
Kayiwa mentioned Richard Kimbowa alias Kojja Kimbowa, a prominent herbalist and businessman, Benson Kato as Yiga’s sureties.
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.
In his ruling, Lumunye noted that Yiga being the founder of ABS TV is also a businessman, adding that his sureties also reside within the Court's jurisdiction.
Lumunye restrained Yiga from commenting about the Coronavirus before his followers, social media, TV, radio, on interview, urging the pastor to comply with Covid19 preventive directives.
He granted Yiga bail of Uganda Shillings 2 million (about US 527) not in cash and directed his sureties to execute non cash bond of Uganda Shillings 20 million (5270) each. The matter will return to court on June 25th 2020 for hearing.
Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala-Uganda
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