Civil society condemns the Arrest of Peaceful Anticorruption Demonstrators

Players in the civil society space led by ActionAid International Uganda are concerned by the highhanded, brutal, and unlawful arrest of peaceful and largely youthful anti-corruption demonstrators on Tuesday, 23^rd July 2024.

The statement released by the organization states that civil society actors 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 anticorruption institutions. We condemn the doublespeak by political leaders who, while calling citizens to lead the anticorruption fight, yet attempt to trivialize, condone, and even justify graft and ill-gotten wealth.

We believe that corruption in Uganda, which 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’’ The statement that was signed by the country director of Action Aid International Uganda, Xavier Ejoyi stated.

The organization has called 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.

According to the statement, 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 honored, 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.