Shanita Namuyimbwa, aka Bad Black, at the Commercial Court in Kampala recently where she was appearing over a different case. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) has summoned socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa, alias Bad Black, over a video she posted online in which she makes serious allegations about a senior government official.
She posted the video on her Facebook page seven months ago, although police have just picked interest to inquire into the claims.
The Force did not say who the complainant is in the case, but the local celebrity likely breached the Computer Misuse Act, according to detectives.
Mr Joseph Obwona, the deputy CID director, in a February 20 summons ordered Ms Namuyimbwa to report to CID headquarters in Kibuli, a Kampala suburb, next Wednesday without fail.
“We are investigating a case of offensive communication and criminal libel. You are, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 27A of the Police Act (as amended) required to report before acting Commissioner of Police [in charge of media department] at CID headquarters…without fail,” he wrote.
In the video, she is alleged to have hurled expletives at the senior official.
Bad Black made the statement as she was protesting the continued detention of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, who was arrested and taken into military custody last August for allegedly stoning President Museveni’s car in Arua.
She later used social media to apologise to the adversely named official and retracted the statements.
SP Vincent Ssekatte, the spokesman of CID, confirmed that they had summoned Bad Black.
“The offences are serious and we want her to appear to record a statement and tell us the truth about the allegations she made,” he said.
Social media misuse charged
Police have lately intensified a crackdown on social media users under the Computer Misuse Act, questioning or arresting as many as five in the past year, among them remanded former Makerere University researcher, Dr Stella Nyanzi and Mr Mulangira Hope Kaweesa, a Democratic Party supporter.
According to Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 on offensive communication, “Any person who willfully and repeatedly uses electronic 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.”
