Pastor who said coronavirus is 'common flu' arrested for false information

A controversial clergy in Uganda, Pastor Augustine Yiga of Revival Church Kawaala in Rubaga division in Kampala, has been arrested over his utterance that coronavirus is mere common flu.

The pastor was arrested for spreading false information and harmful propaganda.

In a video that went viral in the Eastern African country, the man of God could be heard saying:

“Whether Government imprisons me, I don’t care, but I am speaking the truth, there is no Coronavirus in Uganda. They say Rwanda has over 40 cases, how comes no one has passed on? Do they want to say Rwanda has better treatment than China and Italy?”

 Yiga added:

“The President said Uganda has 18 cases and that they’re responding to treatment, does he want to say Uganda has better treatment than Italy, China, and the US? Has Tanzania reported any deaths? Kenya reported one death but I think the victim died from other complications not Coronavirus. Coronavirus is this common flu  and cold that Africans have grown up with.”

 Confirming his arrest on Sunday evening, Police in Kampala said in a statement:

“The Pastor is suspected to have said, in a video recording branded by BBS TV, that the Covid-19 is not in Uganda. The video that went viral undermines government efforts in fighting the pandemic and exposes the public to dangers of laxity in observing the guidelines issued.”

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the clergyman will be questioned over the statements that misled members of the public.

“The action of Pastor Iga promotes the spread of the COVID 19 and can, therefore, be considered as a direct attack on the people of the Republic of Uganda,” Onyango said in a statement.

“Therefore, the suspect, who is currently detained at Old Kampala Police Station will be interviewed to establish the motive behind the dangerous utterances,” he added.

On Sunday, Uganda confirmed that the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) has jumped from 23 to 30.