A 40-year-old ICT expert, Tom Ayeny, has been arrested in Lira City for allegedly spreading false WhatsApp messages claiming that the Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) mortuary is overcrowded with bodies of patients who died due to negligence, including by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Ayeny was detained on March 7, 2025, after a complaint from the hospital’s principal administrator, Peter Okello Odeke. Police allege Ayeny’s message incited public outrage and sought to damage the hospital’s reputation by falsely accusing Aceng of neglecting patients.
According to police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, Ayeny claimed that 10,000 sick individuals were waiting for Aceng’s medical camp, with the intention of undermining government healthcare efforts.
Cybercrime detectives traced the phone number used in the messages to Ayeny’s residence, leading to his arrest. Investigations are ongoing, and his case will be reviewed by the resident city state attorney for potential charges.
Authorities have cautioned others against similar actions, noting that Ayeny may have been used for political purposes amid rising political tensions ahead of the 2026 elections.
