Kampala July22—The Ugandan government has intensified security specially in city centres in the wake of pending strikes and demonstrations this week by various groups of Ugandans on different national issues.
Security personnel, both in uniform and civilian attire have been put on alert and patrolling roads and streets entering cities and the city centres to face protesters. Armoured vehicles and armed security personnel have been deployed and round abouts on roads entering Kampala city.
The country is facing different protests with a group of youth planning an anti-corruption protest Tuesday 23rd July 2024 to march to Parliament to present a petition to the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among protesting against widespread corruption especially among members of Parliament and top public officials in government.
Taxi operators especially in Kampala city are also planning to go on strike protesting against regulations prohibiting them from parking on streets leaving Boda boda operators parking on streets especially around taxi parks taking away their potential passengers entering the taxi park.
Traders in their various organisations protesting against taxes especially EFRIS imposed on them, are planning to close their shops on July 31st 2024 as their representatives go to meet president Museveni in their scheduled meeting to solve the taxes problem. The traders have met president Museveni twice over EFRIS tax with no amicable agreement.
Police had constantly warned against demonstrations and announced that they had refused to give permission for any group to march or hold any demonstration.
President Yoweri Mueveni in a television and radio address warned Ugandan youth against copying Kenyan Gen Z youth practice saying that they will be playing with fire. Museveni is remembered to have commanded soldiers in1979 when he was defence minister to shoot at demonstrators who were protesting at the overthrowing of president Prof. Yusuf Lule from office.
One of the main protest leaders told TV10 that they are going ahead with their march to Parliament.
“We don’t need police permission to carry out a peaceful demonstration. It is our constitutional right,” he was quoted as saying.
The UK and US governments imposed sanctions on Uganda’s parliamentary speaker, Anita Annet Among, earlier this year after she was accused of corruption.
She has denied any wrongdoing.
The sanctions bar her from travelling to the UK and the US. The UK also said that it would impose an asset freeze on her.
The UK has enforced similar sanctions on two government ministers who were sacked by Mr Museveni after they too were accused of corruption.
Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu have been charged in court over a scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets that were intended for vulnerable communities in the north-eastern Karamoja region.
Both have denied the charges.
In Kenya, President Ruto also called for an end to the protests that have hit his government, saying: “Enough is enough.”
The protests are the biggest in Kenya since Mr Ruto took office after winning elections in 2022.
Activists have planned further demonstrations for Tuesday to demand his resignation and for an end to what they call bad governance.
Addressing a rally in western Bomet County, Mr Ruto said the protest organisers could not remain “anonymous”, and should “step forward and tell us what is this violence going to achieve”.
Some protesters stormed parliament last month setting part of it on fire and stealing the mace, the symbol of the legislature’s authority.
Protest organisers say their demonstrations have largely been peaceful.
They accuse the police and the military of responding with brute force, and killing peaceful protesters.
At least 50 protesters have been killed and 413 injured since the protests started on 18 June, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Kenya’s main opposition leader Raila Odinga has expressed solidarity with the protesters, saying there had to be justice for victims before any talks with the government could take place.
Mr Odinga’s position could undermine Mr Ruto’s attempt to include members of the opposition in his cabinet – a move which the hopes will help end the youth-led protests.
