Kampala on Lockdown: Authorities Crack Down Ahead of #StopCorruption Rally
- DERRICK INGARA
- Jul 23, 2024
- 2 min read
The streets of Uganda's capital were eerily quiet on Tuesday as police enforced a heavy presence ahead of a planned anti-corruption rally. The protest, inspired by the youth-led movements in neighboring Kenya, has been banned by authorities, leading to heightened tensions and roadblocks throughout the city.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades, issued a stern warning to potential demonstrators over the weekend, declaring they were "playing with fire."
On Monday night, three opposition lawmakers were remanded in custody, escalating the situation further. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, head of the National Unity Platform (NUP), claimed that the party's headquarters was "under siege" by police and army officers.
"We are the youths and heart of our country and we are not letting down our country," said leading protester Shamim Nambasa on Monday, expressing the determination of Uganda's younger generation to combat corruption.
Posters shared online in the lead-up to the rallies urged demonstrators to "march on parliament," but authorities have vowed to prevent any disruptions. "We will not allow a demonstration that will risk peace and security of the country," said police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke.
Journalists reported that the streets of Kampala, particularly near the business district, were lined with roadblocks and patrolled by officers in anti-riot gear. The NUP headquarters remained under tight surveillance, with a significant police presence in the vicinity.
The detained lawmakers, identified as Francis Zaake, Charles Tebandeke, and Hassan Kirumira, along with seven other NUP affiliates, were arrested on various unspecified charges. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, called for support of the rallies on Monday, stating, "We want a country where we all belong, not for the few in power."
The #StopCorruption march, organized on social media, has galvanized young Ugandans to take a stand against the pervasive issue of graft in their country. Uganda ranks 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's corruption index, reflecting the widespread nature of the problem.
As the situation unfolds, the eyes of the nation and the world are on Kampala, watching to see how this latest chapter in Uganda's political landscape will play out.
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