The president warns that the opposition is “enjoying with fireplace” by taking to the streets.
Ugandan safety forces have surrounded the headquarters of the principle opposition get together forward of a deliberate anti-government demonstration over alleged corruption and human rights abuses.
On Monday, police and troopers minimize off entry to the Nationwide Unity Platform (NUP) workplace close to the capital, Kampala. The specter of protests has angered President Yoweri Museveni, who mentioned it was a plot organised by nameless “foreigners”.
NUP chief Robert Kyagulanyi mentioned the blockade prevented folks from getting into or leaving, whereas some had been brutally detained.
“These cowards have turned the headquarters of the Nationwide Unity Platform right into a army barracks,” he wrote in X.
Kyagulanyi, popularly generally known as Bobi Wine, added that a number of opposition leaders had been “violently arrested”.
These cowards have turned the headquarters of the Nationwide Unity Platform right into a army barracks. A number of leaders have been violently arrested. Now they’ve blocked the roads resulting in the workplace. All as a result of THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE. And sure, WHEN WE LOSE OUR FEAR FOR THEM,… picture.twitter.com/ogLuJSLN0x
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) July 22, 2024
Bobi Wine, 42, a pop star turned politician, has emerged as Museveni’s largest rival lately.
The 79-year-old has dominated the East African nation since 1986. Nevertheless, younger Ugandans have spearheaded unrest lately and plan to march on parliament on Tuesday to protest towards alleged widespread corruption and human rights abuses.
‘Purple flag’
Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke mentioned safety forces had taken precautionary measures towards what he known as the NUP’s “protest mobilisation”.
“We have now been monitoring [this]Their actions raised a crimson flag and we took precautions.[ary] measures,” he mentioned.
Opposition leaders and human rights activists say embezzlement and misuse of presidency funds is widespread in Uganda. They’ve lengthy accused Museveni of failing to prosecute corrupt senior officers who’re politically loyal or linked to him.
Transparency Worldwide ranks Uganda low on its corruption perceptions index, at 141 out of 180 nations.
Museveni has repeatedly denied tolerating corruption and says culprits, together with lawmakers and ministers, are prosecuted if there may be ample proof.
In a speech on Saturday, the president warned Ugandan youth towards the deliberate protest, warning them that they’re “enjoying with fireplace.”
“Some parts, a few of them from the opposition, are all the time working with foreigners to foment chaos in Uganda – riots, unlawful demonstrations, unlawful and thoughtless processions, and many others. Such folks… ought to management themselves or we could have no alternative however to regulate them,” he mentioned.
