In a nation already festering with corruption and nepotism, the organized anti-corruption march planned to Parliament today shines a glaring light on the sheer scale of Uganda’s political decay. The youthful planners of this demonstration are defiant in their demands, undeterred by President Museveni’s authoritarian warning during his televised address. Their resolve to march until their voices are heard is a testament to the unyielding spirit of a populace suffocating under the weight of a corrupt regime.
Leading the list of demands is the immediate resignation of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, alongside the four parliamentary backbench Commissioners and any legislators implicated in corruption scandals. This is not a mere call for accountability; it is a desperate plea to cleanse a Parliament bloated with 529 elected members, a figure that needs drastic reduction. The youths also demand a comprehensive lifestyle audit of all members of the August House. These demands strike at the heart of a Parliament that has become synonymous with graft and extravagance, a breeding ground for corruption that has betrayed the very citizens it purports to represent.
Today’s demonstration is set to coincide with the reconvening of Parliament, a day that promises to be marked by heightened tensions. Public access through roads and streets leading to Parliament will likely be restricted or closed, with a visible deployment of security personnel already in place. This is the face of a government that fears its own people, one that resorts to heavy-handed tactics to silence dissent.
A group of lawyers, in a July 21 letter responding to the police’s July 18 warning against the planned protests, invoked the Constitution to underscore the legality of peaceful protest. Citing the Constitutional Court’s decision in Human Rights Network Uganda, DENIVA, FIDA, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi & Bishop Dr. Zac Niringiye vs. Attorney General, Const. Petition No. 56 of 2013, they emphasized that the right to demonstrate under Article 29(1)d must be upheld. The Court had struck down section 8 of the Public Order Management Act, which sought to give police discretionary powers to stop or restrict public meetings. The letter was a stark reminder to the Uganda Police Force and its sister security agencies to respect the country’s Constitution and the rights it guarantees.
Yet, the police, through their spokesperson Mr. Kituuma Rusoke, continue to dismiss the demonstration as a political procession with hidden motives. This dismissal is not just an affront to the Constitution; it is an outright act of defiance against the very principles of democracy. The police’s narrative of potential violence is a tired excuse, a transparent attempt to delegitimize the protest and intimidate the organizers.
Despite the threats, the protest organizers remain resolute. As Ms. Praise Opolose, one of the organizers, stated, “We don’t have a written petition to hand over to anyone. Our message, which we have designed on placards, is very clear and we shall peacefully march and deliver it.” Former Makerere University Guild President Shamim Nambasa echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that they will not engage with Speaker Among, whom they demand to vacate office immediately.
The scrutiny of Parliament has reached fever pitch, fueled by the #UgandaParliamentExhibition on social media, spearheaded by activists like Agather Atuhaire and Prof. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo. Speaker Among’s dismissals of these criticisms as a political witch-hunt only further expose the rot within. It is indefensible for her to continue holding the third highest office in the land amidst allegations of corruption and sanctions from the UK and US governments.
The protesters also demand the resignation of Mathias Mpuuga and his four counterparts from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party over accusations of sharing Shs1.7 billion as a service award in May 2022. Mpuuga, who has resisted calls from his National Unity Platform (NUP) party to resign, reportedly received half a billion shillings, while the others got Shs400 million each. Such audacious greed in the face of a suffering populace is beyond contempt; it is criminal.
Activists under the Harambee Initiative Uganda have launched a 60-day campaign to collect 1.8 million signatures to table a motion to reduce the number of legislators from 529 to 191. This is not just a reform; it is a necessary measure to prevent further erosion of public trust and to curb the rampant corruption that has plagued Uganda’s legislative body.
The Uganda Police Force’s stance, backed by President Museveni’s subtle disapproval, reveals the government’s blatant disregard for constitutional rights. As echoed in the letter by the group of lawyers, the Constitutional Court has made it clear that the police do not have the authority to prohibit peaceful protests. The Court’s rulings emphasize that a democratic society must tolerate a good deal of annoyance or disorder to encourage the greatest possible freedom of expression.
The police’s claim of intelligence on potential disruptions is a thinly veiled excuse to stifle dissent. Their duty is to facilitate peaceful protests and protect demonstrators from external threats, not to suppress their constitutional rights. The failure of the police to perform their duties cannot justify the infringement of citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
In light of this clear position of the law, the directives to stop today’s demonstration are not only illegal but also unconstitutional. The actions of the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies are a direct violation of the Constitution and the decisions of the Constitutional Court. Those involved in these illegal actions must be held personally accountable for their transgressions.
The protesters’ message is clear: the time for change is now. The corrupt and complicit must be held accountable, and the people of Uganda must reclaim their Parliament from the clutches of a corrupt regime. The youth have risen, and their voices will not be silenced.
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