Faith Nyasuguta
On Tuesday, Ugandan security forces detained several young people participating in a prohibited rally in downtown Kampala. The protesters were demonstrating against alleged rampant corruption and human rights abuses by the country’s leaders.
Several witnesses observed the arrests, and a video posted by NTV Uganda on social media platform X showed police intercepting and detaining a small group of young protesters marching. The demonstrators held placards and chanted slogans denouncing corruption, with one wearing a T-shirt demanding the resignation of the Speaker.
Authorities had banned the planned protest, citing intelligence suggesting that criminal elements might exploit the rally to loot and vandalize. Consequently, soldiers and police were deployed around the parliament building and central Kampala to deter demonstrators.
All roads to the parliament were blocked, allowing access only to lawmakers and parliamentary staff. NTV Uganda’s footage showed military armored personnel carriers patrolling the area.
Businesses near the parliament were significantly affected, with workers struggling to reach their premises. “It’s like a war zone,” said Edwin Mugisha, a Kampala worker, describing the heavy military presence.
On Monday, police had sealed off the offices of Uganda’s largest opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), accusing it of mobilizing for the protests. Several party officials, including lawmakers, were detained. While the NUP denied organizing the march, it expressed support for the demonstration.
Opposition leaders and human rights activists claim that embezzlement and misuse of government funds are widespread in Uganda. They accuse President Yoweri Museveni of failing to prosecute corrupt senior officials who are politically loyal or related to him. Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has consistently denied these allegations.
He maintains that culprits, including lawmakers and ministers, are prosecuted whenever there is sufficient evidence.
The recent detentions highlight the ongoing tension between the government and opposition forces. As the youth-driven protests continue to challenge Museveni’s long-standing rule, the government’s response has indicated the broader struggle for accountability and democratic governance in Uganda.
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