MwangaII magistrate court has finally released on bail Renowned city Pastor of Revival church in Kawaala Pastor Augustine Yiga after spending one month and seven days in Kitalya government prison.
Grade one magistrate Timothy Lumunye ordered Pastor Yiga to deposit two million not cash after ruling that the suspect had presented substantial sureties including a one Richard Kimbowa and Denise Kato. He also presented a medical report to prove that he suffers from diabetes.
His bail hearing was granted via a video visual link.
He however warned Pastor Yiga from commenting or giving his opinion on COVID-19 either to his followers in church or the media saying this will automatically lead to cancellation of his bail and he was also ordered to comply with any security guidelines and laws intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
He returns to court on the 25th of June for further mention of his case.
Pastor Yiga was remanded on the 30th of March to Kitalya government prison on charges of doing an act likely to cause the spread of COVID19.
Pastor Yiga pleaded not guilty to the said charge but the magistrate referred ruling on his bail application after his supporters refused to respect the social distancing directive to fight spread of corona virus by filling up the entire courtroom.
The magistrate further warned that if his followers do not adhere to the said precaution again, he will not rule on his bail application until they do so .
Prosecution states that on the 27th of April 2020 while at his church in Kawaala and before reporters of several Television stations, Pastor Yiga alias Abizayo uttered words to mean that there is no Corona virus in Uganda and Africa well knowing that such words are likely to spread the infection of Corona virus which is dangerous to life.
Pastor Augustine Yiga is said to have further alleged that the alleged deadly virus was just a common flu that has been existing in African countries for years.
Police says his utterances are undermining the government's effort to fight the spread of the virus.