On Tuesday, Ugandan police and the army deployed heavily around Kampala City to thwart planned protests by the youth against government corruption. The security presence in Kampala is markedly heightened, with armored vehicles and personnel patrolling the streets.
Key roads leading to the Parliament of Uganda, including Nile Avenue, Siadi Barre Avenue, and De Winton Road, have been cordoned off by security forces. Public vehicles are barred from entering these roads, with only pedestrians allowed through after rigorous security checks. A robust security presence is also visible at major intersections and roundabouts, marked by the deployment of armored vehicles and personnel.
In a move similar to the tactics used by their counterparts in Kenya, where youth pressured President William Ruto to drop the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and sack his Cabinet, Ugandans have been mobilizing online, particularly on social media.
Arrest of Party Leaders
On Monday, security agencies deployed at junctions and roundabouts leading to and from the city center, including Busega on the Kampala-Masaka highway, and Constitutional Square, which resembled a makeshift barracks. The National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Makere-Kivulu, where the party was set to hold a press briefing, was cordoned off by the army and police, and NUP Vice-President Lina Zedriga was arrested and bundled into a police vehicle. Additionally, a car belonging to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was towed by the police while he was still inside.
“We cannot surrender this country to such reckless processions. Whenever we have reliable intelligence that certain activities are likely to disrupt order, we heighten our deployment. NUP called everyone from all walks of life. We are saying the longer you take to recognize the rights of others, the longer you will not enjoy your rights too,” said Kituuma Rusoke, a police spokesperson.
On the social media platform X, NUP party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, confirmed the siege on his party headquarters. “They have turned the National Unity Platform headquarters into a military barracks. Several leaders have been violently arrested. They have now blocked the roads leading to the office. All because they are scared of the people. And, yes, when we lose our fear for them, they will lose their power over us,” said Bobi Wine. While he expressed support for the protests, he clarified that his movement did not organize them. “The effort by the regime to clamp down and make it look like an NUP initiative is meant to weaken it because they want to make it appear like a partisan matter,” he added.
Museveni’s Warnings
President Yoweri Museveni warned protesters that they would be “playing with fire” if they proceeded with plans to march to parliament on Tuesday. In a televised address on Saturday, the President said, “We are busy producing wealth… and you here want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us.” Museveni accused the protest organizers of “working with foreigners” to cause chaos in Uganda.
The police refused to permit the march, but the protesters insisted they did not need permission to picket. “We don’t need police permission to carry out a peaceful demonstration. It is our constitutional right,” said Louez Aloikin Opolose, one of the protest organizers. Despite the police warning not to disrupt business, the youth, identifying themselves as unaffiliated with any party, religion, or tribe, mobilized for over a month for the demonstration.
A message to all police units in the country released last week ordered high alertness and preparedness ahead of Tuesday’s demonstration, following President Museveni’s warning that demonstrators would not be allowed to proceed with their plans.
