President Yoweri Museveni has offered amnesty to the organizers of recent anti-corruption protests, conditional on their voluntary disclosure of funding sources.
This announcement follows a controversial demonstration on Tuesday, which prompted the President to address the nation. He commended the Armed Forces, Security Forces, and the public for preventing the protest from escalating and maintaining order.
President Museveni identified two primary concerns regarding the demonstration. Firstly, he alleged that the protest was funded by foreign sources, criticizing their historical interference in Africa, including slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, and economic exploitation.
He emphasized that Uganda will not tolerate external manipulation, asserting that the country is not a neo-colony susceptible to these “shallow schemes.”
Secondly, President Museveni expressed concern about the intentions behind the protest, claiming that some participants planned harmful actions against the Ugandan people. He stated that these alleged plans will be revealed in court as those arrested face trial.
He acknowledged that not all participants may have been aware of the foreign funding or purported harmful plans, which is why he advised against proceeding with the demonstration.
The President criticized those who ignored police advice, suggesting they should have heeded warnings. He clarified that had the demonstration been a genuinely patriotic, anti-corruption event conducted peacefully and coordinated with the police, he would have supported it and participated himself.
In related news, the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has granted bail to several anti-corruption protesters, including former Makerere University Guild President Maseruka Robert and intern doctor Ssagala Abdul Rahman Kabanda.
They were charged with being a common nuisance following a protest on July 23rd, 2024. The protesters denied the charges and applied for bail, which was set at 100,000 shillings each, with sureties signing non-cash bonds. The accused are required to report back to court on August 29th, 2024, for trial.
The Mwanga 2 Magistrates Court in Mengo has also charged Claire Namara, the former Vice Guild President of Kyambogo University, with disturbing religious assemblies. Namara, 25, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Amon Mugezi and denied the charges.
The court heard that on July 28th, at Lubaga Cathedral Church in Rubaga Division, Kampala District, Namara caused a disturbance during a religious ceremony. Namara pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, set at sh500,000.
Her troubles began when she made a one-person demonstration at Lubaga Cathedral, holding a placard condemning alleged corruption by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among.
The placard stated, “Magogo’s Birthday Car would Pad One million Young Girls for a Year,” referencing the luxurious Range Rover Among gifted her husband, Magogo. Namara’s protest was part of a larger movement of over 100 people charged in connection to anti-corruption demonstrations.
Among has dismissed calls for her resignation, claiming that the protests are backed by foreign agents opposed to the Anti-Homosexuality Law passed by Parliament.
