Ugandan authorities have arrested over 100 people during anti-corruption protests that erupted earlier this week,according to a police statement released on Friday. The demonstrations, inspired by recent protests in neighboring Kenya,saw young Ugandans take to the streets to denounce alleged graft among government officials.
The government’s response to the protests has drawn widespread condemnation. The United States Embassy in Uganda expressed concern over the arrests of dozens of peaceful protesters and called for an investigation into allegations of assault. Human rights group Amnesty International also criticized the government’s “heavy-handed tactics.”
Police have charged nearly all of those detained with public order offenses. The exact number of arrests was not disclosed until Friday’s statement, which revealed that 100 people had been charged.
The protests come amid growing public frustration over corruption in Uganda. Demonstrators called for the resignation of government officials implicated in graft scandals and demanded reduced salaries for lawmakers.
As the situation unfolds, the international community is watching closely to see how the Ugandan government will address the growing public discontent.