Tems, Omah Lay to be Charged to Court

Tems and Omah Lay, Nigerian music stars, would soon be charged to court after their arrest in Uganda following a concert.

Announcing their arrest, the Ugandan Police Force, in a statement, said the singers were arrested for flouting COVID-19 guidelines in the country.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Kampala Metropolitan Police; Superintendent of Police, Patrick Onyango, who spoke on behalf of the force, three Ugandan police officers were arrested alongside the singers for conniving with the organisers of the event to break the law.

While condemning the flouting of COVID-19 guidelines, Onyango said Tems and Omah Lay would know their fates in the court.

The statement read: “Nine people have been arrested in connection to the unauthorized concert that was held last night in Ddungu Resort, Munyononyo, Kampala Capital City.

“Those arrested include Nigerian artiste –Stanley Omah Didia alias Omah Lay, artiste Temilade Openyi alias Tems, Muyiwa Awomiyi (Temilade’s manager), Benjamin Kabura (organiser), Ivan Ddungu, the manager of the place where the concert was held, and Prim Kasana, the event manager, who contracted Omah Lay to sing.

“Others are police officers L/AIP Fabiano Juma, No51328 PC John Bosco Ocaba and No.67898 PC Paul Odongo.

“All suspects are being held on offence of doing acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, which is Coronavirus. It is also alleged that the suspects and others still at large held a concert in violation of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

“It is alleged that the organizers of the concert first held lunch and dinner, but later on, at night they started inviting artistes to perform. Preliminary investigations indicate that they connived with area police officers, who guarded the illegal event. The arrested officers and three others still at large are also being investigated for disobeying lawful orders. All suspects are detained at Katwe Police Station in Kampala as their files are being processed so that they can appear in court. 

“After the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country, the Ministry of Health issued guidelines suspending concerts attended by revellers in order to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The guidelines still stand.

“We condemn the acts of some selfish individuals, who are bent on violating the directives on COVID-19 with the purpose of making money while risking the lives of many Ugandans. We appeal to members of the public to adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.”