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Police in Mityana district have in detention an elderly woman who is being held to account for her daughter’s social media posts.
The suspect in custody is Sylvia Nazziwa, a resident of Maanyi sub-county.
She was arrested by Mityana Deputy RDC Prossy Mwanjuzi, who personally went to her home and took her to Maanyi police post.
Her daughter, Teopista Nalwoga who is working in Saudi Arabia, landed her in trouble.
Nalwoga has reportedly been sharing anti-government messages on social media.
Her messages attacked key people in the government including the Minister of Lands, Hon Judith Nabakooba who hails from Mityana, and First Daughter Natasha Karugire.
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Judith Nabakooba
During her arrest, Nazziwa said she was unaware of her daughter’s messages, saying, “I did not know anything about the posts until yesterday.”
She also denied knowledge of a village WhatsApp group where her daughter’s messages were being spread.
Prossy Mwanjuzi, the deputy DRC said the arrest was to serve as a warning to other Ugandans abroad who post lewd comments about Ugandan leaders thinking that they cannot be held accountable.
"If you think you are going to base in the Middle East to insult our leaders, you must know that if we choose to go after you we shall go after you."
Police speak out
The arrest, however, was widely condemned online, with many pointing out that the RDC overstepped her authority by holding Nazziwa accountable for her daughter’s actions.
Asan Kasingye, the former Uganda Police Political Commissar described the RDC as “problematic.”
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire, also weighed in on the matter, writing, “If true, this is irregular.”