Speaking about the demonstration that is scheduled for this month, the president of Uganda; Yoweri Museveni has advised people who wish to participate to engage in more constructive endeavors. With the ongoing protests in their fellow East African state; Kenya, Ugandan youths have decided to follow suit. However, the country’s president has condemned the idea.
President Yoweri Museveni has issued a warning to the youth planning an anti-corruption protest on the 23rd of July. The president suggested that they take the energy intended for the protest and put it to more productive activities.
As reported by the Uganda newspaper, the monitor, Ugandan youths are preparing to march to parliament in order to voice their grievances against what they believe to be a corrupt system.
The newspaper also revealed that several lawmakers in the country are currently dealing with corruption charges, underscoring the rot that has eaten into the country’s governmental system.
Despite their rationale, president Museveni during a speech on Saturday, asked those planning to protest to speak to Col Edith Nakalema who was the head of the anti-corruption walk from City Square to Kololo in 2019, that avoided disrupting daily lives.
The president also alleged that foreign conspirators alongside his opposition are responsible for inciting riots and illegal demonstrations, warning that action would be taken to this effect.
“Some elements, some from opposition, are always working with foreigners to ferment chaos in Uganda. These people are unfair and should check themselves or we will have no alternative but to check them,” the Ugandan president stated.
Uganda’s planned protest may have been inspired by the ongoing Kenyan protest.
Kenya’s protest
There has been an ongoing protest in Kenya to unseat the current president of the country; William Ruto. The call for the president’s resignation began as a protest against the unpopular tax bill which was recently introduced. The controversial tax proposal sparked widespread resentment in the country, particularly amongst the country’s youth.
The tax was imposed on basic amenities, products that contribute to e-waste and harm to the environment, imported products, and products and services used directly and exclusively in the building, as seen in a report by BBC.
However, after the protests turned violent, leading to the loss of over 40 lives, the Kenyan protesters quickly shifted gears, demanding that the president leaves, despite adhering to their demands to repeal the tax bill.