Last updated on August 27th, 2024 at 05:43 pm
Museveni Warns Protesters
The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has sternly warned anti-corruption marchers threatening a protest to parliament on Tuesday that they are “playing with fire.” The march, called by young Ugandans through the social media, is to demand an end to government corruption.
Inspiration from Kenya
The Ugandan protests have taken wider demands for accountability and governance reforms as they emulated the mass demonstrations in Kenya that forced President William Ruto to drop plans for increasing taxes.
Permission to Protest Denied
Police have already refused permission for the march. But the leader of the protest, Louez Aloikin Opolose, told the AFP news agency that the demonstration would take place irrespective. “We don’t need police permission to carry out a peaceful demonstration. It is our constitutional right,” he said.
Sanctions on Ugandan Officials
The UK and US governments imposed sanctions early this year against Uganda’s parliamentary speaker, Anita Annet Among, accused of corruption. She denies the accusations. The sanctions bar her from travelling to the UK and the US, while the UK has also slapped her with an asset freeze.
Unrest and Violence in Kenya
The protests in Kenya have been seriously unsettled, with some protesters storming parliament, setting parts of it on fire, and stealing the mace that is a symbol of legislative authority. The organizers said that their demonstrations had been largely peaceful and accused the police and military forces of responding with excessive might, reports of killing at least 50 people and injuring 413 others since June 18 when the protests began, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Opposition Support in Kenya
Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has thrown his weight behind protesters who want justice for the victims first before negotiations with the government.
