19 People Arreigned In Court For Defying Presidential Orders On Quarantine (Lockdown) Over Coronavirus Epidemic.

Today Mon 06th/04/2020 in Arua, 19 people were taken to court after being charged with two offences of disobedience  to lawful orders contrary to section 117 of Penal Code Act and Negligent Act likely to spread Infection of disease contrary to section 171 of Penal Code Act. It so happened that on Saturday 04/04/2020 at around 4:30pm, police got a tip off from some concerned citizens that a big group of people gathered for a social happening at Kampala Garden, Bar and Lodge  along Enyau road, Arua municipality. Accordingly, a team of officers led by OC Station Arua stormed the place at around 6pm. As they found the gate locked from inside, they demanded for it to be opened, but then those inside refused. The officers were forced to climb over the fence in order to access the inner part of the premise, where they got over 50 people gathered drinking alcohol, smoking shisha and cigarettes, chewing marungi etc. Since the officers were fewer in number, they only managed to arrest 19 of them ranging from the ages of 25 to 35 years, as majority escaped in disarray. 11 of them were men and 8 were women. The 19 suspects were detained at Arua CPS meanwhile 2 shisha pots, Marungi, cigarettes, bottles of beers among others were exhibited. A case file with Arua CRB 1232/2020 opened, investigated, sanctioned by RSA and forwarded to court with the suspects. The 19 suspects were; Mayebale Steven, Inzaruku Alone, Butele Moris, Karim Rajab, Batre Alfred, Aboyi Joseph, Osborne Terah, Hassan Yasir, Kennedy Danniel, Sanko Farid, Siraj Asiku, Aziza Hassan, Amina Bruhan, Alezuyo Manuella, Aisha Onyera, Taibo Christine, Farida Fusilati, Mami Maimuna, Manuella Shamira. They all pleaded not guilty to the above offences and were remanded to Arua Government Prison until 27th/04/2020. A person convicted in any of the two offences above is liable to a maximum punishment of Two years and Seven years imprisonment respectively. Several other places are being monitored for similar operations. This should be able to inform members of public that whoever disobeys the Presidential directives aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 can actually be arrested and prosecuted according to the law under Penal Code Act, and this will deter others from committing the same offences. 

Report made by SP Angucia Josephine, Police PRO West Nile.