The United States (US) Embassy in Uganda has spoken on the #March 2 Parliament protests, held on 23rd July ,2024.
In a statement, the embassy called for justice for the over 90 Ugandan citizens who were arrested while protesting against corruption and bad governance in the country.
The protests were highly discouraged by President Yoweri Museveni as he had earlier likened the planned protests to ‘playing with fire’.
“United States is concerned by the recent arrests of over 90 Ugandan citizens peacefully demonstrating against corruption and commends the courage of the media to ensure the Ugandan public stays informed,” read part of the statement.
While quoting the constitution, the Embassy stated any detained person has a right to a fair hearing and safe treatment and that does not in any way exempt those arrested during protests.
PHOTO/ Bobi Wine
US Embassy Call for Justice
Likewise, the Embassy called for investigations to ascertain whether any of the arrested protesters had been assaulted.
“Under the Ugandan constitution, anyone detained has the right to a fair hearing and safe treatment, and we urge that any allegations of individuals assaulted in detention be investigated and perpetrators be held accountable,” noted the US embassy.
In a post on his Twitter(X) account, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine issued a statement clarifying that most of the people who were arrested during the protests were sexually harassed.
“Several young people- anti-corruption protesters who were violently arrested this week have spoken of how they were raped (sodomized) by the men who took them,” clarified Bobi Wine.
The opposition leader called for justice and accountability while describing Museveni’s regime as one that shields perpetrators of such acts.
Also Read: Museveni Accuses Foreign Forces of Funding Protests in Uganda
“There must and shall be accountability for these crimes against humanity,” read part of his statement.
Earlier, a call to action had been circulating widely on social media, urging citizens to participate in massive demonstrations to speak against corruption and bad governance in the country.
#Occupy Uganda Protests
“MARCH 2 PARLIAMENT, CITIZENS, RISE AGAINST CORRUPTION PERPETRATED BY THESE MPS,” the posts declared.
The movement emphasized on the constitutional right to freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration, as stated in Article 29 of the Constitution: “Every person shall have the right to freedom to assemble and to demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed.”
Also Read: Bobi Wine Clarifies Organizing #March2Parliament Protests in Uganda
Consequently, the President Yoweri Museveni had issued a statement on the protests where he alleged that foreign sources were used to fund the chaos.
The Head of State also accused the foreign sources of meddling in Africa’s affairs over the years citing the promotion of slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, genocide and economic exploitation.
Museveni sent a message to the alleged funders of protests, saying that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed.
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