Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned protesters that pursuing their plan for an anti-corruption march to parliament on Tuesday will be akin to “playing with fire.”
Young Ugandans, mobilizing through social media, are organizing the march to call for an end to government corruption.
Their actions have been partially inspired by similar demonstrations in Kenya, where mass protests compelled President William Ruto to abandon his tax increase plans.
In a televised statement, Mr. Museveni warned the Ugandan protest organizers that their demonstration would not be tolerated.
“We are focused on generating wealth, and now you want to disrupt us. You are playing with fire because we cannot permit you to interfere,” he stated.
Critics accuse Mr. Museveni of governing Uganda with an iron fist since 1986, while his supporters commend him for maintaining stability in the East African nation.
The president also alleged that some protest organizers are “always collaborating with foreigners” to create unrest in Uganda, though he did not provide details.
Earlier, police announced that they had denied permission for the march coinciding with the opening of parliament on Tuesday.
One of the leading figures in the protest told AFP news agency that they would proceed regardless.
“We don’t need police authorization to hold a peaceful demonstration. It’s our constitutional right,” said Louez Aloikin Opolose.
Earlier this year, the UK and US governments imposed sanctions on Uganda’s parliamentary speaker, Anita Annet Among, accusing her of corruption.
She has denied any wrongdoing, and the sanctions prevent her from traveling to the UK and US. The UK also announced an asset freeze against her.
Additionally, the UK has imposed similar sanctions on two ministers who were dismissed by Mr. Museveni after being implicated in corruption.
Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu face court charges related to the theft of metal roofing sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region.
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