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The charges against the protesters outline offenses including being “idle and disorderly” and being a “common nuisance”, a charge that has often been used by authorities to suppress protests. They pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court on different dates between July 30 and August 6.
Over 42 protesters were arrested in Uganda recently for offenses allegedly committed during a banned youth-led demonstration in the capital Kampala. The young protesters had earlier marched on the city’s streets to denounce what they say are corruption and human rights abuses by lawmakers.
The charges against the protesters outline offenses including being “idle and disorderly” and being a “common nuisance”, a charge that has often been used by authorities to suppress protests. They pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court on different dates between July 30 and August 6.
Opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), say embezzlement and misuse of government funds are widespread in Uganda and have long accused President Yoweri Museveni of failing to prosecute corrupt officials who are loyal to him. The President has repeatedly denied condoning corruption.
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The NUP headquarters were surrounded by soldiers and police. Wine said that some party officials had been violently arrested while denying that the NUP was behind the protest. Human Rights Watch has accused the government of blatant violence of the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech, guaranteed in Uganda’s constitution and international law, and called for dropping charges.
