Ugandan police squashed a planned march to parliament on Tuesday, quickly detaining at least 73 young activists, as reported by Chapter Four Uganda, an organization offering legal aid to those arrested. Unfazed, more protesters hit the streets on Thursday, as shown in a video shared by the Daily Monitor on X. The footage captured riot police cramming young demonstrators into the back of a truck amid their loud chants.
Meanwhile, NTV Uganda broadcasted scenes of about a dozen people marching with signs proclaiming “The Corrupt are Messing with a Wrong Generation” and “This is our 1986,” harking back to when President Yoweri Museveni ousted a tyrannical regime. When approached, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke redirected inquiries to his Monday statement, asserting that protests were banned to prevent looting and vandalism.
Museveni, ever the tactician, warned over the weekend that protesters were “playing with fire” and on Thursday accused them of being bankrolled by foreign entities. “Uganda is not a neo-colony,” he declared. “I alone handle the fight against corruption. Just provide evidence, and action will follow.”
Ugandan and Kenyan activists have been using audio forums on X to coordinate their protests. During one such forum on Thursday, activists urged Ugandans to take to the streets despite the frequent and harsh police responses to anti-government demonstrations. “You want it done today? Get out of your house … Be the soldier for this anti-corruption fight,” one speaker urged.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of parliament speaker Anita Among, sanctioned by the U.S. and Britain this year for alleged corruption. Among denies these accusations, claiming she’s targeted by Western powers for her role in enacting stringent anti-LGBTQ laws last year.
Ugandan protesters are adopting the slogans of their Kenyan counterparts, where over 50 people have died in six weeks of protests. They describe themselves as “fearless” and “leaderless.” Inspired by these movements, Nigerian activists are also gearing up for demonstrations next month in response to a mounting cost of living crisis.
Our voices must be heard.
