By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Police have detained more protestors in the ongoing anti-corruption demonstrations in the capital city Kampala. The protesters holding placards and chanting above their voices were demanding the resignation of the parliament speaker, Anitah Among over graft allegations.
The march to parliament demonstration started on Tuesday 23rd July, 2024, but we’re thwarted by a heavy security deployment which resulted into the arrest and later remand of over 90 young protesters.
On Thursday 25th July, 2024, the demonstrations hit the second day as more demonstrators took to the streets, and an unspecified number of protestors was arrested and are currently detained at different police cells.
Dozens of protesters were marching with placards with signs that said, “The Corrupt are Messing with a Wrong Generation” and “This is our 1986”, a reference to when President Yoweri Museveni overthrew a repressive government.
ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Spokesperson said police attempted to discuss with organizers on Monday to stop the demonstrations but they did not heed to their advice due to their hidden agenda including looting and vandalism.
Earlier today, President Museveni commended security officers for successfully foiling the demonstration which he alleged had foreign funding and that the sinisters had intentions against Ugandan people.
“That is why, they should have listened to the police advice, not to go on with the demonstration. But they rubbished the police advice. Otherwise, if it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, co-ordinated with the Police, I would have been the first to join”, said Museveni on his official X platform.
Also, over the weekend Museveni warned protesters against “playing with fire”, accused them on Thursday of receiving foreign funding.
“Those involved should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony,” he said. “The fight against corruption is in my hands. I just need evidence and action will be taken.”
Ugandans using social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Tik Tok have been organizing the protest with demands for the resignation of parliament speaker Anita Among, who was sanctioned this year by the United States and Britain for alleged involvement in corruption.
However, Among has denied all allegations of graft claiming that she is being targeted by Western governments for her role pushing through harsh anti-LGBTQ legislation last year.
