Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has issued a statement following anti-corruption protests in the country’s capital.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Head of State described the protests as a flop while thanking locals for not participating in the demos.
Museveni claimed that the protests were funded by foreigners sources that are always “meddling in the internal affairs of Africa.”
“I want to congratulate the Armed Forces and the Security Forces and the Wanainchi, for foiling or not participating in the bad demonstration that was planned for Tuesday. That demonstration, had two bad elements. Element no.1, was funding from foreign sources that are always meddling in the internal affairs of Africa for the last 600 years ─ slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, genocide, economic exploitation, etc. All those involved, should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed,” he wrote.
Museveni also mentioned that participants of the protests had bad intentions with the people of Uganda, noting that they will be exposed in Court.
“The second element, was that some of the authors and participants of the demonstrations, were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda. Those very bad things, will come out in court when those arrested are being tried. It is possible, that some of the participants, did not know of the planned foreign funding and the planned bad things. That is why, they should have listened to the police advice, not to go on with the demonstration. But they rubbished the police advice,” he added.
Museveni noted that he would have supported the demos if it would have meant good for the country.
“Otherwise, if it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, co-ordinated with the Police, I would have been the first to join,” he said.
Elsewhere, A Ugandan magistrate’s court has charged at least 42 youths for offences allegedly committed during a banned anti-corruption protest on Tuesday and remanded them in custody.
Protesters marched on different streets in the capital Kampala on Tuesday shouting slogans and holding placards denouncing corruption by lawmakers.
At least 42 protesters were charged and remanded when they appeared at a magistrate’s court in Kampala late on Tuesday, Bernard Oundo, president of Uganda Law Society, who was heading a team of lawyers representing the suspects, said on Wednesday.
The charges outlined various offences including being “idle and disorderly” and being a “common nuisance”, the charge sheet produced in court said.
They pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court at different dates between July 30 and August 6.
