Defiant Ugandan protestors "not intimidated" despite Museveni's threats

The demonstration, dubbed 'March2Parliament', has prompted a significant increase in police and military presence in the capital, Kampala.

President Yoweri Museveni, in a televised address, cautioned protesters against proceeding with the march, warning they would be "playing with fire." He emphasised the government's focus on economic development, stating, "We are busy producing wealth… and you here want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us."

However, organisers of the planned protest say they won’t back down despite the warnings from police and President Museveni. Journalist, Makana Kennedy Ndyamuhaki, one of the organisers stated that they are not intimidated.

Ndyamuhaki wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "We're not intimidated! We stand firm for our rights 2 #March2Parliament to assert our freedom & demand accountability!"

The protest movement draws inspiration from recent events in neighbouring Kenya, where youth-led demonstrations compelled President William Ruto to abandon plans to increase taxes. The Kenyan protests have since escalated into demands for Ruto's resignation.

To suppress the planned march, Ugandan police allegedly surrounded and raided the headquarters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) on Monday, July 22.

The NUP reported roadblocks leading to their headquarters and claimed that "several party leaders have been violently arrested."

Although the protests are not officially organised by the NUP, its leader Bobi Wine affirmed the party's support, saying, "We support them with all our might."

President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, faces accusations from numerous international human rights organisations of suppressing dissent. Activists and opposition leaders have repeatedly been harassed and threatened for voicing anti-government sentiments.