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Dozens of people have been detained in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, following anti-corruption protests that defied an official ban.
Around 60 individuals, including a prominent TV presenter and three young protest leaders, were swiftly brought before courts and remanded in custody after a march on the country’s parliament on Tuesday.
The protests, which were organized via social media, were sparked by long-standing allegations of corruption involving several high-profile public officials.
The demonstrations drew inspiration from recent protests in neighboring Kenya, which led President William Ruto to abandon planned tax hikes.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades, had issued a stern warning prior to the protests, cautioning that participants were “playing with fire.”
Authorities had previously denied permission for the march, citing concerns about threats to Uganda’s “peace and security.”
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On the day of the protest, riot officers established roadblocks and security forces sealed off roads and maintained a heavy presence around the parliament building.
Images from the scene showed marchers holding signs reading “Stop corruption” and labeling the parliament as a “den of thieves,” while others declared “We are peaceful protesters.”
The response from the police was forceful, with protesters being seen being manhandled and pushed into riot vans.
Notable among those detained were television and radio presenter Faiza Salima and protest organizers, George Victor Otieno, Kennedy Ndyamuhaki and Aloikin Praise Opoloje.
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