A Ugandan magistrate’s court has charged at least 42 youths for offenses allegedly committed during a banned anti-corruption protest on Tuesday. The youths have been remanded in custody.
Protesters took to the streets of Kampala on Tuesday, chanting slogans and holding placards denouncing corruption among lawmakers. Following their arrests, the protesters appeared in court late on Tuesday, where they faced charges including “idle and disorderly conduct” and being a “common nuisance.” Bernard Oundo, president of the Uganda Law Society, who led the legal team representing the suspects, confirmed the charges on Wednesday.
The accused pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court between July 30 and August 6.
Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group, criticized the arrests as indicative of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration’s disregard for the right to protest and free expression. Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW, stated, “Instead of being arrested and blocked from protesting, those people should have been given a platform and listened to.”
Attempts to reach the police spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful.
Opposition leaders and rights activists have long accused Museveni of failing to address widespread embezzlement and misuse of government funds, particularly among politically loyal or related senior officials. Museveni has denied these allegations, asserting that culprits, including lawmakers and ministers, are prosecuted whenever there is sufficient evidence.
Prior to Tuesday’s march, the military and police were heavily deployed across Kampala to deter the protest.