ActionAid International Uganda Condemns the Arrest of Anticorruption Demonstrators

By Namutebi Sumayiya

FULL STATEMENT

ActionAid International Uganda is dismayed by the highhanded, brutal and unlawful arrest of peaceful and largely youthful anti corruption demonstrators yesterday Tuesday, 23rd July 2024.

We are particularly concerned that state security forces would disproportionately intimidate, harass, and arrest young people exercising their legitimate anti corruption civic duty, rather than bringing thieves of public resources to book.

We are further concerned with the recent wave of political corruption that is posing an existential threat to Uganda’s nascent democracy, rule of law, and functional key state institutions – including mandated anti corruption institutions.

We condemn the double speak by political leaders who, while calling citizens to lead the anti corruption fight, yet attempt to trivialize, condone, even justify graft and ill-gotten wealth.

We believe that corruption in Uganda, that the head of state recently conceded is now endemic, is undermining all efforts of socioeconomic transformation by government, private sector, civil society, and ordinary citizens.

Corruption deprives young people of quality public services, robs them of fair opportunities and mortgages their future.

 We call on the government of Uganda to put its resources where its mouth is – in the fight against corruption. All mandated accountability institutions should expeditiously use the available legal, administrative, and political actions to deal decisively with corruption.

The Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protests and freedom of expression and Article 23 provides for the right to access a lawyer upon arrest. These rights must be protected and honoured, not only for those arrested, but for all Ugandans. The rule of law is paramount, and all parties must be held accountable for their actions.