KAMPALA – Prophet Elvis Mbonye of Zoe Fellowship Ministries (ZFM) was on Monday, October 28, 2019, grilled for about three hours at the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Directorate (CIID) in Kibuli, Kampala, following allegations that he has been decampaigning the immunization exercise of polio, measles and rubella.
In the company of his lawyers and secretary, Pastor Mbonye, who was dressed in a black T-shirt, lack panties and black shoes arrived at the CIID headquarters in the afternoon. He was later seen leaving the station later in the evening.
Mr Charles Twine, the CIID spokesman, said the pastor was interrogated for sabotaging government programmes and other offences, as provided for in the 2017 Immunisation Act.
The Police had earlier issued criminal summons against Prophet Elvis Mbonye of the Zoe Fellowship Ministries (ZFM) over decampaigning the national immunisation drive.
If found guilty of going against the 2017 Immunisation Act, Pastor Mboye will pay a fine not exceeding forty-eight currency points (about sh960,000) or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.
The vaccination campaign was implemented in order to interrupt the Measles-Rubella outbreaks where over 300 000 cases, 46 000 patients and 587 deaths were reported. 95% of the cases were between 1 and 15 years. The exercise was conducted in all schools and communities countrywide targeting all children under 15 years, whether previously immunized or not.
The campaign was also a launching pad for the combined measles-rubella vaccine into the routine immunization schedule replacing the single measles vaccine. Moving forward, a combined measles-rubella vaccine will be given to children during the routine immunization.
