Dozens detained in Kampala anti-corruption protest

July 23, 2024 45

There’s heavy police and military deployment in Uganda’s capital Kampala, ahead of a planned anti-corruption protest. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned he will ‘crush the protests’ if demonstrators go ahead with their plans. Isabel Nakirya reports.

Ugandan security forces detained dozens of young people on Tuesday, a rights group said, as they took part in a banned protest rally in downtown Kampala against official corruption and alleged human rights abuses by the country’s rulers. A Reuters witness saw the detentions being made, while a video posted by NTV Uganda on the X social media platform showed a small group of young people being intercepted and detained by police.

According to the Associated Press, the protests were organised by Ugandans who hope to emulate efforts by people in neighbouring Kenya, where demonstrations recently forced the president to dismiss almost his entire cabinet after widespread opposition to a proposal to impose new taxes.Ugandans have been provoked by mounting allegations of corruption against the parliament speaker, Anita Among, who has rejected calls for her resignation after revelations online of allegedly irregular expenditure by her office and others close to her.

Written by: Tonata Kadhila

Anita Among Anti-Corruption Protest Civil Unrest Corruption Allegations human rights abuses Kampala Police Kenya Protest Military Deployment Security Crackdown Uganda Youth Detentions Yoweri Museveni