Summary:
- Parliament in Kampala is currently under heavy security lockdown. Military Police, Field Force Units, and regular police officers have been deployed in large numbers to quell the protests planned by youth groups.
- The youth had planned a march to Parliament to express their dissatisfaction with heightened levels of corruption.
KAMPALA: Amidst the ongoing march to Parliament by Gen-Z youth groups protesting widespread corruption allegations in the August House in Kampala, Hon. Jonathan Odur, MP for Erute South, blamed the country’s leadership.
He held the President, Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speaker, and Commissioners of Parliament responsible for the mess.
Hon. Odur stated that when these corruption allegations surfaced, the leadership failed to take necessary steps to address public concerns.
“The leadership of the country, beginning with the President, Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speaker, and Commissioners of Parliament, are all responsible for this mess. When these allegations of corruption surfaced, they didn’t take the necessary steps to address the concerns of the public. So, the young generation has been pushed to the wall to express their dissatisfaction and anger. The argument that Article 43 gives the police powers to limit protests is baseless. Those limitations only apply when there has been a violation of the law,” Odur asserted.
Parliament in Kampala is currently under heavy security lockdown. Military Police, Field Force Units, and regular police officers have been deployed in large numbers to quell the protests planned by youth groups. The youth had planned a march to Parliament to express their dissatisfaction with heightened levels of corruption.
Odur criticized this deployment, emphasizing that Parliament should be a place where all Ugandans can seek redress.
“The more the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Commissioners of Parliament, and MPs bury their heads in the sand and try to cover up these serious allegations of corruption in this House, the more people will rise up. President Museveni has failed to fight corruption and is protective of corrupt individuals. Is this how you intend to handle the country?” Odur asked.
He continued, “For me, the best approach is to hold a public inquiry into anyone alleged to be corrupt. All those alleged to be corrupt must step aside to allow for a transparent investigation. If they aren’t corrupt, they will be exonerated. Why are they covering up? We hold these offices in trust for the people. If we can’t satisfy the demands of the people, they will take other steps to hold us accountable, and these could take forms Ugandans have never imagined.”
Odur also condemned the leadership’s arrogance in dismissing and threatening the young protesters.
“Threatening the young people who are demonstrating is arrogant. Even if you order and kill a few of them, you are still responsible. Those who feel powerful should remember that they will eventually be held accountable before courts of law. The public record should capture their actions; time will come when each one of them will account,” he warned.
Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, echoed Odur’s sentiments, warning against pressing young people too hard.
“You don’t want to press young people against the wall and discover when it’s too late. In Kenya, William Ruto woke up too late when the people were already angry and agitated. Listen to them; they aren’t coming to fight but to share their grievances, which should be welcomed,” Ssenyonyi said.
John Musila, Bubulo East Member of Parliament, added that a people-centered Parliament should listen to its citizens.
“If we are a people-centered Parliament of Uganda, we should have suspended the plenary sessions to extend the recess and listen to our people. The Executive and all Ministers should dialogue with the young people. While I do not support protests because they might be infiltrated by criminals, it is crucial to listen to the young people,” Musila advised.
Minister of State for National Guidance, Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku, cautioned against copying political actions from other countries.
“Ugandans should note that most of these political issues shouldn’t be copy-pasted. Just because Kenya demonstrated and went to Parliament doesn’t mean we should do the same. The dynamics, circumstances, and environment are different. In Kenya, they were demonstrating against the Finance Bill; here, we are demonstrating against corruption. The dynamics are completely different,” Kabbyanga stated.
