The Ugandan anti-corruption demonstration which stemmed from social media has led to several arrests, including the arrest of a TV presenter and three of the youth protest leaders.
As reported by the BBC, those arrested were rushed to court, following Tuesday’s march on the country’s parliament to root out the corruption that has eaten into Uganda’s administrative system.
According to Bernard Oundo, the head of the Uganda Law Society, fifty people were charged during one hearing.
“This was a rushed trial. They were arrested and taken to court in a very short time and remanded to prison without securing them bail,” he said.
The protest, according to the BBC, was inspired by the ongoing protest in Kenya, which has led to massive changes in the Kenya’s administration.
The Ugandan Police had previously stated that they were against any rally that threatened Uganda’s “peace and security” and that they had not granted permission for the march.
On Tuesday, law enforcement surrounded the parliament building and shut off roadways, while riot police were observed manning roadblocks.
Images of the protesters had slogans like “Stop corruption” and “den of thieves” directed at the parliament. “We are peaceful protestors,” remarked a second. Others showed protesters being thrown into the back of riot vans and physically assaulted by police.
Kenya’s protest
There has been an ongoing protest in Kenya to oust the country’s current president, William Ruto. The request for the president’s resignation originated as a protest against a controversial tax bill that was proposed. The contentious tax bill aroused considerable dissatisfaction throughout the country, particularly among its youth.
The tax was imposed on basic amenities, products that contribute to e-waste and harm to the environment, imported products, and products and services used directly and exclusively in the building, as seen in a report by BBC.
However, after the protests turned violent, leading to the loss of over 40 lives, the Kenyan protesters quickly shifted gears, demanding that the president leaves, despite adhering to their demands to repeal the tax bill. #Rutomustfo
