University researcher jailed for calling Ugandan President ‘a pair of buttocks’

AFP photo

By

Gloria Nakiyimba

Makerere University researcher and LGBT sympathizer Dr. Stella Nyanzi has been charged and remanded to jail for calling Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni ‘a pair of buttocks’.

Dr. Nyanzi appeared on Monday before Buganda Road chief magistrate James Eremye and pleaded not guilty to the charges of cyber harassment and offensive communication. She was later remanded to Luzira prison until the 25th of April.

The charges stem from her social media posts attacking the first family and first lady in particular following President Yoweri Museveni’s failure to deliver on his promise of giving free sanitary towels to schoolgirls. The President made the pledge while campaigning for another term in office last year.

Dr. Nyanzi has often used vulgar language in all her posts and communications about the matter which irked the state. Uganda’s first lady and also minister for Education Janet Museveni in an exclusive interview on one of the leading television stations announced that she had forgiven Dr. Nyanzi for her abusive utterances.

The Prosecution alleges that Dr Nyanzi posted on her facebook page suggestions and proposals referring to President Yoweri Museveni as ‘a pair of buttocks.’

It was further alleged that the researcher wilfully and repeatedly using electronic communication posted offensive messages on facebook with the intention of disturbing the peace and privacy of President Museveni.

On Monday the State asked Court to lock up the controversial Makerere researcher Nyanzi for two weeks as a measure to control what they termed as continued reputational damage and injury to her victims.

State prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya told Court that Dr. Nyanzi should undergo a thorough mental check-up and her mental condition be monitored continuously following her periodic erratic episodes, unusual behaviour characterized by gross indecent utterances and her history of public nudity.

Last year the 42 year old mother of twins undressed at Makerere University protesting the closure of her office after she refused to lecture students insisting her job description was Researcher as she had been ordered by then head of MISR Professor Mahmood Mamdan.

It is hoped that the mental examination will help determine whether Dr. Nyanzi can stand trial. She was arrested last Friday as she prepared to address a gathering of Rotarians.

Gloria Nakiyimba

Gloria has experience spanning more than five years in Journalism, particularly in field reporting, editing, newscasting and management. She is currently working with Capital Radio Limited [91.3 Capital FM and 96.3 Beat FM] as Head of News, a position she has held since 2010.

Gloria previously worked as the Kampala Correspondent for Radio France International [RFI] generating local story leads with international inference for RFI’s global audience. She also served as Political Editor for The Weekly Mail Newspaper as well as Online Content Editor for the California based Ugandan broadcaster KubutakaRadio.com.