Police in Uganda have committed to preventing a youth-led march to Parliament scheduled for Tuesday, aimed at protesting alleged widespread corruption.
Organizers of the march claim it will be an inclusive and peaceful demonstration in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. However, police officials assert that intelligence indicates other individuals with ulterior motives may be planning to infiltrate the protest.
“Following a thorough security assessment regarding the feasibility of a political procession, we advised the organizers and urged them to heed our counsel,” police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated during a press conference in Kampala on Monday.
Rusoke further emphasized that the Uganda Police Force will not tolerate any disorderly conduct. “That is the position of the Uganda Police Force,” he declared.
He noted that while the right to peaceful demonstration is recognized, it is not without limitations. “Our disagreement is along those lines.
The exercise of your right to assemble does not negate our responsibilities as police,” Rusoke explained.
He continued, “We understand and cherish these rights, but we have been unable to find common ground on how they can be exercised peacefully. The promoters of these activities exhibit a level of belligerence that we are not willing to accommodate. That is our stance.”
On Saturday, President Museveni issued a televised warning to the youth, cautioning them against participating in the protest and stating they are “playing with fire.”
This warning came after a meeting between the police and the protest organizers.
The police had previously suggested that the youth explore alternative means of expressing their grievances, a suggestion the organizers, inspired by Kenya’s Gen Z activists, have rejected.
As of Monday evening, the organizers remained determined to proceed with the march, with social media in Uganda buzzing with posts about the upcoming demonstration.
