Ugandan police have banned a planned anti-corruption protest in Kampala, citing intelligence reports of potential chaos.
However, organisers have vowed to proceed with the demonstration, citing their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The protest, scheduled for Tuesday, aims to march past parliament, which protesters accuse of tolerating corruption. “Our starting point in the fight against corruption is parliament… and the demonstration is on irrespective of what police is saying,” said protester Shamim Nambasa.
Police operations director Frank Mwesigwa stated that demonstrations can only be allowed if they do not cause public disorder or disrupt citizens’ lives. However, protest leader Louez Aloikin Opolose countered, “We don’t need police permission to carry out a peaceful demonstration.”
Uganda has been ruled by President Yoweri Museveni since 1986 and ranks 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index. The protest draws inspiration from ongoing demonstrations in neighbouring Kenya, which have turned deadly with at least 50 killed and 413 injured since June 18.
