By Our Reporter
Nigerian singers, Omah Lay and Tems have finally spoken out on their jail ordeal in Uganda.
Omah Lay has revealed that his days in detention were some of the toughest days of his life and it almost made him lose his mind.
“The past few days have been some of the toughest of my life that I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. Out in a new country with some beautiful people, the next thing I’m being treated like a common thief,” Omah Lay wrote on Twitter. ” I damned near lost my mind.”
The situation was no different for Tems who further revealed that the experience opened her eyes to the struggles of women and children, and she vowed to get more involved in activities aimed at making life more easier for such people.
“This past week has been difficult but extremely eye opening for me. I know some may have been worried, but despite everything, this experience has helped me see things for myself,” Tems said in a statement released online.
“While I was being detained, I met some amazing women and children, and my eyes were opened to the strife and hurt a lot of women are going through. I am so blessed to have experienced the strength and bravery that these women possess to keep them going. I have newfound passion and desire to be involved in making life more easier for people such as these, no matter the circumstance.”
Omah Lay and Tems had been booked to perform at the Big Brunch concert that was held at Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo on Saturday, 12th December 2020.
After successfully holding the show, the singers would later be accused of violating the COVID-19 health guidelines and standard operating procedures when images from the show emerged online showing revelers closely packed together.
They were consequently arrested on Sunday along with their managers and the concert organisers. They spent the night at Katwe Police Station, before being arraigned in a magistrate court in Makindye on Monday where they were charged with negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious disease. Omah was sent to Kitalya Prison while Tems was sent to Kigo Prison.
Following widespread public outcry and intervention from their Foreign Ministry, the charges were all dropped and they were released on Tuesday afternoon.
The singers travelled back home safely on Thursday.