Father, daughter arrested for selling fake coronavirus vaccine

MAYUGE    CORONAVIRUS   CRIME   HEALTH

A father and his daughter in Mayuge district, eastern Uganda, have been arrested for administering people with a fake "coronavirus" vaccine. 

Saaid Kaire, a traditional healer and Amina Kaire, both residents of Wante village, Imayiro sub-county, are said to have convinced the unsuspecting Ahmadiyya Muslim sect that they had the vaccine.

The Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said the two were arrested following concern by the area deputy chairperson.

"They visited a number of families belonging the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect telling them that they had discovered a vaccine for the coronvirus disease that is currently causing widespread deaths in parts of Asia and Europe and spreading to other parts of the world," he said.

Investigations show that, Saaid and his daughter had managed to persuade their unsuspecting subjects and would administer droplets of the unknown substance, claiming it would protect them from the coronavirus.

"The unknowing subjects mostly women and children purchased the said vaccine at a fee that was negotiated with the seller before it would be administered.

The duo never sold it to anyone outside the Muslim sect." Enanga said.

Enanga who was addressing journalists at the Police's weekly press briefing in Kampala, said the Police took action following a tip-off and arrested the two with their substances packed in small plastic bottles.

"The vice-chairperson of the Muslim sect alerted the Police after several weeks of this racket going on amidst his congregation and we arrested them," he said.

Enanga said two small plastic bottles have already been submitted to the forensic laboratory for further examination.

He said the two are detained in Mayuge over charges of obtaining money by false pretense pending further investigations. "We are waiting for a report from a laboratory to know the substance they were administering before adding any charge and sending the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions," Enanga added.

He called on the public to desist being duped by unscrupulous people with selfish motives but follow the guidelines and protective measures issued by the World Health Organisation and the health ministry on how people should conduct themselves in face of the coronavirus threat.

Coronavirus (COVID 19) is a large family of viruses that cause illness, including the common cold and more severe diseases.

Father, daughter arrested for selling fake coronavirus vaccine Relatives of Ssekitto display a picture of him outside the City Mortuary as they wait for his body. He was killed at Kisinsi landing site in Mukono.