In the wake of Kenya’s tumultuous protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024, Uganda is gearing up for its own anti-corruption demonstration, highlighting a growing trend of civil unrest in East Africa.
Dubbed #March2Parliament, the planned peaceful protest in Uganda is scheduled for July 23, 2024, aiming to rally citizens against widespread corruption in the country’s government and parliament. The initiative comes just weeks after Kenyan protesters stormed their parliament building, setting parts of it ablaze in a dramatic escalation of tensions over economic policies.
The Ugandan march, organized by a coalition of activists, social media users and artists, is calling for participants to don black attire and carry anti-corruption placards. In contrast to the violent scenes witnessed in Nairobi, organizers are emphasizing the peaceful nature of the demonstration, advising marchers to bring only water bottles for hydration and their phones.
“I won’t stop reminding you all that it’s your constitutional right to peacefully protest! Comrades, join us on the 23rd of July, we #March2Parliament,” said one social media user.
The Kenyan protests, which unfolded under the hashtags #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024, saw a significant turnout of young people opposing the government’s economic measures. The demonstrations led to violent clashes between protesters and police, culminating in the partial burning of the Parliament building.
AThe events in Kenya may have emboldened civil society groups across the region.
The Ugandan government has yet to officially respond to the planned march. However, sources within the ruling party indicate growing concern over the potential for unrest and blame the opposition for the planned protests.
As July 23 nears, all eyes will be on Kampala to see whether Uganda’s #March2Parliament will mark a turning point in the country’s fight against corruption or if it will face the same fate as previous attempts at reform.
