President Yoweri Museveni has extended an offer of amnesty to the organizers of recent anti-corruption protests, provided they voluntarily disclose the sources of their funding. The President’s announcement comes in the wake of a controversial demonstration that took place on Tuesday.
In his address, President Museveni praised the Armed Forces, Security Forces, and the public for their role in preventing the demonstration from escalating. He expressed his appreciation for their efforts in maintaining order and discouraging participation in what he described as a problematic protest.
The President identified two primary concerns regarding the demonstration. First, he highlighted that the protest was allegedly funded by foreign sources, which he criticized for their historical interference in Africa. He pointed out that this interference includes past issues such as slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, and economic exploitation. Museveni emphasized that Uganda would not tolerate such external manipulation, asserting that the country is not a neo-colony susceptible to these “shallow schemes.”
Second, President Museveni expressed concern about the intentions behind the protest. He claimed that some participants were involved in planning harmful actions against the Ugandan people. These alleged plans, according to Museveni, will be revealed in court as those arrested are put on trial. He acknowledged that not all participants may have been aware of the foreign funding or the purported harmful plans, which is why he had advised against proceeding with the demonstration. The President criticized those who ignored the police advice, suggesting that they should have heeded the warnings.
Museveni clarified that had the demonstration been a genuinely patriotic, anti-corruption event conducted peacefully and coordinated with the police, he would have supported it and participated himself.
