In Uganda, police detained 104 individuals during anti-corruption demonstrations this week. According to a statement released late on Friday, nearly all of those arrested face charges related to public order violations.
The response of the government to the street protests attracted criticism from rights advocates and the United States. The U.S. voiced “concern” about the arrest of many protesters who were “demonstrating peacefully”.
In a statement released on Friday through its X account, the U.S. embassy in Uganda urged President Yoweri Museveni’s administration to investigate reports of assaults on some of the detained protesters.
On Tuesday and Thursday, young Ugandans rallied in the streets to protest against alleged corruption by elected officials in their country.
They were inspired by the recent youth-led protests in neighboring Kenya, which successfully pressured the president to cancel proposed tax increases.
In reaction, Museveni’s long-standing administration deployed police and military personnel across Kampala, the capital.
They arrested dozens of demonstrators who were waving banners and shouting slogans. The heavy security presence aimed to suppress the anti-corruption protests and maintain public order.
Police revealed in their statement that 100 of the detained individuals had been charged. This was the first instance where the police provided an exact count of those arrested during the protests.
In an announcement, police revealed that 100 of the detained individuals had been charged. This was the first instance where the police provided an exact count of those arrested during the protests.
In a statement released on Thursday, it was asserted that Ugandan authorities must immediately and unconditionally free all individuals arrested solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
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