Nigerian artistes, Omah Lay and Ms Tems, have been arrested by the Uganda police in Kampala for going against covid-19 guidelines.
The two were arrested shortly after their performance on Saturday night at The Big Brunch, a concert that held at Speke Resort, Wavamunno Rd, Kampala.
They are accused of holding the show at a time when political rallies ae allowed not more than more than 200 people and churches in Uganda have been restricted to 100 people.
Luk Owoyesigyire, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Deputy Police Spokesperson, Kampala Metropolitan Police, confirmed their arrest on Twitter on Sunday.
Mr Owoyesigyire also announced that the manager of the venue where the musicians performed, and the events manager, were also in their custody. Ms Tems’s manager, Muyiwa Awomiyi, was also arrested. Three police officers including the area officer in charge of the police station in the area were also arrested.
In their statement, the Ugandan police alleged that the organisers of the concert first held lunch and dinner events, but later on at night started inviting artistes to perform.
“Three people have been arrested in connection to the unauthorised concert that was held last night in Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala City.
“Those arrested are Ivan Ddungu, the manager of the place where the concert was held, Omah Lay the musician and Prim Kasana, Events Manager, who contracted Omah Lay to sing.
“The Police are also looking for the Area Officer in Charge of the police station for failure to detect the criminal acts that took place in his area of jurisdiction.
“It is alleged that the organizers of the show disguised it as a lunch and dinner event, but later on at night they started inviting artistes to perform.
“The suspects are detained at Katwe Police Station and are being charged with doing acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, which is corona virus.
“On the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, the president directed that music concerts should be stopped and the directives still stands.
“We condemn the act of some selfish individuals, who are bent on violating the directives on CONVID-19 to make money and risks the lives of many Ugandans.
We appeal to members of the public to adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID-19 and follow all the SOPs.” The full statement reads.
Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Uganda, the country’s Ministry of Health issued guidelines suspending concerts attended by revellers in order to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Ugandan artistes and citizens have condemned the widely promoted concert, which had more than 1000 people in attendance.