Uganda authorities arrest 104 individuals amid anti-corruption protests

Ugandan police forces introduced on Saturday that 104 people have been arrested amid the continuing anti-corruption protests within the African nation.

Uganda’s Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said, “Between July 22 and July 25, 2024, demonstrators tried to #MarchToParliament in Kampala, resulting in important police intervention.”

Rusoke confirmed that 100 of the people have been already in court docket and that 13 of them have prior legal fees. He added that 9 folks have been detained for frequent nuisance and visitors regulation offenses on July 22 and that every one of these people have been despatched to court docket. 75 folks have been captured on July 23, with 74 going to court docket and one in police detention. Furthermore, three folks have been arrested for frequent nuisance fees on July 24, and on July 25, 16 folks have been arrested with 13 in court docket and three in police custody.

The protestors are a part of a youth-led march in opposition to the rise of corruption within the Ugandan Parliament. On July 23, the march resulted in a number of opposition Nationwide Unity Platform (NUP) members being arrested. The parliamentary opposition chief, Joel Ssenyonyi, accused the police of utilizing extreme drive. Though the demonstration was decentralized and deliberate by social media, officers banned it resulting from public order considerations. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni additionally purportedly warned that protestors have been “enjoying with hearth.”

Amnesty Worldwide urged Ugandan authorities on Thursday to unconditionally launch anti-corruption activists imprisoned by Ugandan authorities. Amnesty Worldwide’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said:

As an alternative of silencing folks for expressing their discontent and persevering with to make use of illegal drive to cease peaceable protests, state authorities should deal with the calls for of the people who find themselves calling on them to cope with corruption amongst elected officers, and respect, shield and fulfil all their human rights obligations.