After spending six days in police detention, 17 coordinators of Presidential Aspirant Henry Tumukunde’s “Renewed Uganda” pressure group on Wednesday were arraigned in a Wakiso Court and formally charged with doing an act likely to spread infection of a disease.

The members denied the charges.

They are: Frank Kigozi, a mechanic; Mathias Kato Mawejje, a businessman; Mr Gabira Gonzaga, a teacher; Ivan Kazibwe, a systems administrator; Robert Birungi; a teacher; Lawrence Ssempa Ssebuuma, a mechanic; Tophar Nalikiriza, a matron, and Sylvia Kickyankya, self-employed.

Others are: Ms Gorreti Batenga, a businesswoman; Musa Ssenyonga, a salon attendant; Ashraf Ssendegeya, a barber; Ivan Kayondo, a teacher; Stephen Ankunda, a businessman and Nanfuka Namusisi, a businesswoman.

Prosecution alleges that coordinators on August 13 in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, knowingly tried to spread the infection of a dangerous disease to lives of people, unlawfully and negligently gathered in a meeting.

They were arrested a day after Gen Tumukunde launched his pressure group for the 2021 elections for violating the guidelines for covid-19