Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala has ordered the remand of three anti-corruption protestors to Luzira prison.
The protestors were arrested after staging a nude demonstration at Parliament, calling for the resignation of Speaker Anita Among.
Charges and Court Proceedings
The protestors—Norah Kobusingye, Praise Aloikin Opoloje, and Kemitoma Kyenzibo—appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayiizi.
They were charged with being a common nuisance, a violation under Section 148(1) of the Penal Code Act. The protestors denied the charges but were remanded after failing to present substantial sureties to secure bail.
Magistrate Kayiizi noted that it was not possible to adjourn the matter to the next day due to his tight schedule, as he was the only judicial officer available.
Details of the Charges
Prosecution, led by Mr. Ivan Kyazze, informed the court that investigations into the case were complete. The charge sheet alleges that on September 2, 2024, the protestors, along with others still at large, made a procession in the middle of Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala while half-naked.
They had anti-corruption slogans written on their bodies, actions deemed unauthorized by law, causing public annoyance, obstruction, or inconvenience.
The Protest and Its Symbolism
Before their arrest, the braless protestors, with their breasts painted in the colors of the Ugandan flag, carried placards condemning corruption and demanding the resignation of Speaker Anita Among.
The protestors, identifying themselves as “Uganda Freedom Activists,” marched near Uganda’s legislative assembly before being intercepted by security officers.
Their protest was symbolic, intended to highlight the rampant misuse of public resources by corrupt politicians.
Concerns Raised by the Protestors
The protestors also accused the government of slow and inadequate support for victims of the August 10 collapse at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)’s Kiteezi landfill.
The disaster left 35 bodies recovered, with several others still missing.
They demanded an audit of the earnings and lifestyles of Ugandan lawmakers, as well as accountability from KCCA over the landfill tragedy.
Public Criticism and Government Response
Under the leadership of Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among and her deputy, Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa, Parliament has faced growing public criticism.
Since July 2024, social media-driven protests have demanded Among’s resignation. Security forces have violently suppressed these youth-led anti-corruption protests, which President Museveni claims are “foreign-funded attempts to disrupt Uganda.”
The protests were largely organized via the microblogging app X (formerly Twitter), drawing inspiration from similar Gen Z-led movements in neighboring Kenya.
The Kiteezi Landfill Tragedy
Nationwide anger intensified after the August 10 garbage landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in Wakiso District, managed by KCCA.
Mountains of rubbish buried people, livestock, and homes. Despite repeated warnings about the impending disaster, no preventive actions were taken, leading to the tragic loss of lives.
