Nigerian singers Omah Lay and Tems released from police custody in Uganda

Nigerian singers Omah Lay and Tems who were charged with breaching Covid-19 rules in Uganda have been released from police custody on Tuesday night. 

Court documents indicate that the Ugandan government withdrew the charges against the two singers and their manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi. 

Before the charges were dropped, the three had been in police custody for three days. 

When the trio held a concert on Saturday in the capital, Kampala, four others were arrested alongside them for going against the coronavirus rules. 

Uganda presidential hopeful and musician Bobi Wine had criticized the arrest of the two singers and their manager. 

He took to social media and accused President Yoweri Museveni’s government of double standards in law implementation regarding the fight against Corona virus. 

According to Bobi Wine, the singers were arrested yet they had been granted a work permit and even performed under police protection. 

He also claimed that Museveni’s violated the laid down procedures on social dancing during the campaign trail, wondering why they were not apprehended. 

The presidential hopeful wrote, “The arrest of Omah Lay, the Nigerian artist is not about Covid-19. It’s an act of shame by a corrupt government that operates on double standards. The artist was booked, obtained a work permit and performed under police protection, why arrest him? While some Ugandan artists are staging pro-Museveni shows with thousands of people in blatant violation of the same SOPs under the guard of police and the military, a foreign artist is persecuted to cover up the shame.”

Bobbi Wine's lawyers were part of the team representing the two musicians and he was happy that the charges against them were dropped. 

“Delighted to see the illegal and unfair charges dropped! Evidence that voices matter, that PEOPLE POWER can force the people in power to act. We must never underestimate our potential!” Bobbie added. 

Nigerian musicians also called for the release of the two musicians after they were arrested. They condemned the arrest in social media. 

Olamilekan Agbeleshe, a reality show star of Big Brother Nigeria, asked, “Wasn’t there prior publicity about the show? Why wasn’t it shut down before it was held? Why are you arresting artistes that performed? Who organised the show?” 

Runtown wrote, “It is a total shame that Nigerian artists Omah Lay and Tems, who flew into Uganda legally for a publicly announced event, are being hounded and embarrassed in such a manner.”

Grammy-nominated artiste, Burna Boy, also called for the release of the two musicians.