Efforts by Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) to save toxic blogger Fred Kajubi Lumbuye from being deported from Turkey seem to have failed.
Lumbuye was expected at the Entebbe International Airport following his arrest in Turkey days ago.
He is accused, among others, of originating and spreading false reports, including claims that President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni had been airlifted to Germany in critical condition, and had later died.
This fake news claim irked Museveni who directed security to hunt down all social media users spreading alarmist fake news.
Now, the NUP fake news activist will be extradited along other Ugandans accused of social media misuse.
As of August 06 evening, junior foreign affairs minister in charge of international relations Henry Okello Oryem said Lumbuye and others were airborne and expected at Entebbe on August 07.
Reports claimed there was tight security at the airport early Saturday morning.
Although Lumbuye had thought he was untouchable, the Turkish and Ugandan governments had reached an agreement to deport all Ugandans engaged in social media abuse and other criminal activities to face prosecution back in Kampala.
“We want to thank the Turkish authorities for cooperating with us in this matter,” said Oryem.
“They helped us in identifying and arresting these individuals who were using the hospitality accorded to them by the Government of Turkey to commit crimes. They abused this authority and I think that is why the Government of Turkey picked interest in them and arrested them.”
For Lumbuye and his colleagues, charges against them relate to social media abuse, sectarianism and inciting violence.
But, what will happen to Lumbuye once he returns to Uganda?
NUP had planned to block the extradition of Lumbuye and others. The opposition party had claimed the clueless blogger would be tortured and detained for long.
But Minister Oryem said: “I want to assure Ugandans that Lumbuye and his accomplices will not be tortured.”
He then explained what awaits Lumbuye and colleagues back home.
He hinted on quizzing and prosecution.
“On arrival, they will be received by relevant authorities, and the law will take its course,” the minister said.
“They will be interrogated and then prosecuted in court depending on the charges preferred by the DPP.”
