WANTED! Blogger Lumbuye in trouble over false Museveni death announcement

Controversial blogger Fred Kajubi Lumbuye is in trouble after Uganda Police Force (UPF) revealed it could soon work with International Police (Interpol) to extradite him to Kampala to face charges relating to circulation of fake news regarding President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s false death.

Weeks ago, social media posts claimed Museveni was either critically ill and had reportedly been flown to Germany with breathing complications occasioned by Covid19 or dead.

But the president would later appear in public looking healthy.

Days later, he ordered security agencies to crack down on social media abuse, calling those who had declared him dead ‘idiots’ who ‘waste people’s time.’ (See: Arrest all idiots who said I was dead: Angry Museveni issues orders as he finally speaks on his sickness, death rumors).

A few days later, police arrested a member of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) for allegedly originating and sharing a Whatsapp message claiming Museveni was dead.

Police arrested Jamilu Ssekyondwa, 22, from Luweero.

Following Museveni’s orders and days after Ssekyondwa’s arrest, Charles Mansio Twine, the spokesperson of Uganda Police Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), revealed a number of bloggers could soon be arrested over the Museveni death announcement narrative.

Lumbuye is wanted by the police because he has reportedly made it a habit to use social media to make claims that he has exclusive information to prove that Museveni opponents have been poisoned.

Also, some of the people Lumbuye claimed had died, such as the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and President Museveni, are still alive.

Labelling Lumbuye’s social media posts “useless and unfound information,” Twine swore police would soon have the controversial blogger in their hands.

Lumbuye is said to be based in Turkey.

But Twine insists police has “mechanisms [to arrest him].

“It’s a matter of time. All those punks will be arrested and brought here to face prosecution,” he said at the weekend.

“How do you announce death of someone without evidence that they have died? Responsibility to announce someone dead lies in the hands of the family members or government if the deceased was its official.”

President Museveni has suggested that social media users hiding in Europe and the US be denounced.

Suspects could face cyber harassment and offensive communication charges.