Paul Mubiru, a Ugandan who has since gone viral over a video of him hawking grasshoppers on a Uganda Airlines aircraft was arrested and slapped with charges that could fetch him up to seven years in jail.
He faces charges alongside Hajib Kiggundu Hajib who is alleged to have captured the video.
Hajib was arrested by Aviation Police at Entebbe International Airport yesterday.
Police have since slapped three offences against them with one fetching seven years in jail on conviction.
According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the duo is facing charges of common nuisance, refusal to follow lawful instruction given by the aircraft crew member contrary to the Civil Aviation Security Regulation 2012, and negligent acts likely to cause the spread of an infectious disease.
“The suspects went against the standard inflight instructions and started vending fried grasshoppers. They also defied one of the cabin crew members who approached and asked them to stop the illegal act and take their seats,” said Enanga.
“In addition, despite the pre-flight Covid tests and mandatory use of face masks, passengers posed another safety risk, when they removed their masks and were shouting at the top of their voices,” he added.
The Ministry of Health guidelines against the spread of Covid-19 indicates that people are supposed to wear their masks in public places to prevent transmission of the virus.
The offence of common nuisance attracts a year in jail on conviction while the other of refusal to follow a lawful instruction given by the aircraft crew member amounts to a fine of not exceeding 72 currency points (Shs1,440,000) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.
