Ugandans will be shocked when evidence is presented in court against suspects arrested during the anti-corruption demonstrators according to President Yoweri Museveni.

Over 100 youths were arrested for allegedly participating in a march to parliament against corruption. They accuse the speaker of parliament Annet Anita Among of gross unabated corruption. In a statement issued by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU), Museveni said the reason police charged them with being ‘idle and disorderly’ was because, at the time, those charging were not privy to the intelligence that had been gathered. 

“I politely advised them a few days ago, in my address to the nation. They, obviously, thought that my advice was of no consequence. Please, Ugandans avoid these mistake makers. The evidence in court will shock many. As I said, the planners of these demonstrations wanted to do very bad things. The charge by the police of “idle and disorderly”, I suspect, was used because the deployed personnel did not have all the information. This was a high-quality, intelligence-led operation. I have most of the information,” Museveni’s statement reads in part. 

The president stated two issues why the protests had to be stopped. 

“Element no.1, was funding from foreign sources that are always meddling in the internal affairs of Africa for the last 600 years ─ slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, genocide, economic exploitation, etc. All those involved, should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed,” Museveni’s statement reads in part. 

The second element Museveni lists is that some of the authors and participants in the demonstrations were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda. Museveni didn’t disclose those bad things promising instead that these will be presented in court during the trial of those arrested.

“It is possible, that some of the participants, did not know of the planned foreign funding and the planned bad things. That is why, they should have listened to the police advice, not to go on with the demonstration. But they rubbished the police advice,” Museveni’s statement reads. 

He adds that if it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, coordinated with the police, he too, would have joined it like he did in 2019 when then State House Anti-corruption head Col. Edith Nakalema organized a march from city Square through Kampala road to Jinja road climaxing with a public rally at Kololo ceremonial grounds. He tasked Nakalema to organize another march on a Sunday which he said he was willing to join. 

“Nakalema can co-ordinate with the genuine anti-corruption fighters for a similar effort, especially on a Sunday…In particular, the heavily populated suburbs of our cities – Kawempe, Bwaise, etc. should never be used for demonstration, because they will damage the little wealth creation that our people are painstakingly building up. Kololo Ceremonial Grounds is being repaired now. When the work is finished, Nakalema should organize us. I will be there,” added Museveni.

He called upon those he said are being funded by foreigners to stop and report to the minister of State for Ethics, those who have been funding them. He promised not to arrest them. 

“We know a lot about the goings on in those groups. Our interest is to immunize Uganda against the schemes of the imperialists and their agents,” Museveni said thanking the security team for doing a good job of stopping the demonstrations and ensuring that there was no bloodshed.  

“The fight against corruption, is in my hands. I just need evidence and action will be taken. The accounting officers are the guardians of government money, procurement and personnel. They let us and themselves down. I am now leading this little war. We fought the bigger war. We shall win this one also,” Museveni said in his statement. More than 95 people were arrested on Tuesday after participating in the march to parliament protests. Many of them were charged in court for being common nuisance and remanded to prisons.  By URN/ The Observer