Inspired By Kenya, Ugandan Youth Protests Corruption Leader Protest, 73 People Arrested

Kamala Area, Uganda/UNSPLASH/Random Institute

JAKARTA - Ugandan police detained a number of people in the capital Kamala during the second day of anti-corruption protests demanding the resignation of the chairman of the parliament

Inspired by the protests led by young people for weeks in neighboring Kenya forcing the president there to withdraw proposed tax increases, Ugandan youth began demonstrating against allegations of corruption committed by elected leaders.

Police arrested 73 young protesters, according to Chapter Four Uganda, an organization that provides legal services for those detained.

On Thursday, July 25, more demonstrators took to the streets, according to a video posted on X by the Daily Monitor newspaper. The footage shows police in riot gear forcing some people into the back of the truck shouting protest slogans.

Most of those detained appear to be young adults.

Footage broadcast by NTV Uganda showed about a dozen young people lined up with posters reading, "Corruptors mess with the Wrong Generation" and "This was 1986", referring to the time President Yoweri Museveni toppled a repressive government.

When questioned for comment, police spokesmanKituuma Rusoke referred to Reuters' comments on Monday, in which he said demonstrations were prohibited because they would be infiltrated by people who wanted to loot and carry out vandalism.

Ugandan and Kenyan activists have used the audio forum on X as the main platform to organize their protests.

In one of the forums on Thursday, activists encouraged Ugandans to take to the streets but acknowledged the challenges in mobilizing in a country where anti-government demonstrations often sparked a crackdown by police.

"Do you want this to be finished today? Leave your house. Be a soldier in this fight against corruption," said one speaker.

The demands of the protesters included the resignation of MP Anita Among, who this year was sanctioned by the United States and Britain for alleged involvement in corruption.

Among denied all allegations of corruption and said he was the target of the Western government for his role in pushing for last year's tough anti-LGBTQ law.

Museveni, who at the weekend warned protesters of "playing in fire", has often come under criticism from his domestic opponents and foreign governments for cracking down on dissent and failing to eradicate corruption.

Museveni denied the allegations and said those responsible for corruption would be prosecuted if there was sufficient evidence.

Protesters in Uganda borrowed slogans from their Kenyan counterparts, of which more than 50 people died in six weeks of protests, and referred to themselves as thitless' and without a leader.