By Charity M. Ngabirano
Western Uganda singer Reagan Muhirwe alias Ray G and wife Anabelle Twinomugisha are in deep sorrow after losing their newborn daughter just two weeks after she was born. The couple that wedded in October this year after dating for a number of years have one child together and this was their second.
In the middle of this, Ray G’s former lover took to a Facebook account linked to her to make a line of threats. Elizabeth Namara expressed utmost excitement about the death of the little girl and even went ahead to claim responsibility. (A source who wished to remain anonymous told The Kampala Sun yesterday that the baby was born prematurely).
In the Facebook post, Namara threatened Ray G, warning him to “be careful with me after messing up the good life we had built together.”
(The Kampala Sun called Namara to confirm if it was her who had put up such a hurtful post, but she didn’t pick her phone. She later switched it off and it was no longer reachable).
First of all, whether it’s Namara who put up the post herself or someone else did using an account linked to her, threats are not to be taken lightly and neither should they be ignored.
We have seen prominent people like prosecutor Joan Kagezi (gunned down in 2015), Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira (shot dead in 2018), Police spokesperson and assistant inspector general of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi (assassinated in 2017) and several sheikhs, among others, who were threatened/offered threats and these threats were later acted upon. It may not be easy to determine whether someone is just bluffing or they are actually serious, especially for a bitter woman like Namara.
Ray G and wife at their wedding in October
Death or injury threats should always be reported at the earliest just in case something happens to you, then the Police would have a clear starting point for their investigations
What is the law on threatening violence?
To start with, the Constitution of this land protects us by providing in its Article 24 that; No person shall be subjected to any form of torture, cruelty inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Threatening violence is a criminal offence established under Section 81 of the Penal Code Act which says that; Any person who with intent to intimidate or annoy any person, threatens to injure, assault, shoot or kill any person… or injure any property, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years.
A statement such as the one this jilted lover made carries a lot of intimidation and intentions to annoy the couple, plus threats on what is going to befall her ex-lover, Ray G. The intention to intimidate may be gathered from the utterances, conduct, and surrounding circumstances. It must be shown that the words were mattered.
Death or injury threats should always be reported at the earliest just in case something happens to you, then the Police would have a clear starting point for their investigations.
What is the consequence of Namara’s actions?
Criminal law in Uganda is open to the fact that a person’s actions before and after the act, can criminally connect them to the offence thus making them criminally liable for that offence which they would be charged with.
“My beloved ex, I will not rest until you pay for my years and money that you wasted… unless that you gonna cry until leave this world,” Namara allegedly wrote in part on Facebook.
This statement could land her in trouble with the authorities. This can be likened to running away after killing someone as an act after, or even preparatory actions or threats carried out before a murder. Court follows your steps and behaviour before and after the fact to establish your guilty mind and intentions.
The writer is an advocate
Note: The article is intended to provide information about general statements of law and is not intended to create an advocate-client relationship. Contact a lawyer on specific legal problems
