Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has praised the country’s security forces for preventing what he described as a “bad demonstration” planned for Tuesday. The long-serving leader accused foreign entities of meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs and alleged that some protest organizers harbored sinister intentions against the Ugandan people.
President Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, asserted that the foiled demonstration had “two bad elements.” He claimed the first 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.”
The president declared, “All those involved, should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed.” This statement underscores the ongoing tensions between the Ugandan government and what it perceives as external interference in its domestic affairs.
Museveni further alleged that some protest organizers were “planning very bad things against the people of Uganda.” Without providing specific details, he stated that these plans “will come out in court when those arrested are being tried.” This claim raises questions about the nature of the charges that may be brought against detained protesters and the evidence supporting such accusations.
The president’s comments come amid growing concerns about political freedoms and civil liberties in Uganda. Opposition figures and human rights organizations have long accused the government of suppressing dissent and using heavy-handed tactics to quell protests.
Museveni, however, sought to distinguish between what he views as legitimate, patriotic demonstrations and those he believes are driven by foreign interests. He stated, “If it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, co-ordinated with the Police, I would have been the first to join.”
The president referenced a previous anti-corruption march in 2019, organized by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit led by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema. He suggested that similar events could be organized in the future, particularly at the Kololo ceremonial grounds once repairs are completed.
In a move that may raise eyebrows among civil society organizations, Museveni called on those receiving foreign funding to report to the Minister of State for Ethics. He assured that they would not face arrest, stating, “We shall not arrest them. In any case, we know a lot about the goings on in those groups.”
The president’s statement also touched on the broader issue of corruption in Uganda, a persistent challenge that has hampered the country’s development efforts. Museveni asserted, “The fight against corruption, is in my hands. I just need evidence and action will be taken.” He criticized accounting officers as “the guardians of Gov’t money, procurement and personnel” who have “let us and themselves down.”
President Museveni has promised to provide more information on the issue in a broadcast scheduled for next week.
