Court Accuses Over 42 Ugandan Youths in Anti-Corruption Protest

A Ugandan magistrate’s court has charged at least 42 youths for offences committed during a banned anti-corruption protest on Tuesday. The protesters, who marched in Kampala, denounced corruption by lawmakers and held placards denouncing corruption.

The charges included being idle and disorderly and being a “common nuisance”. The protesters pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court at different dates between July 30 and August 6.

Human Rights Watch criticized the arrests as a demonstration of President Yoweri Museveni’s “lack of respect for people’s right to protest and express themselves.”

Opposition leaders and rights activists argue that embezzlement and misuse of government funds are widespread in Uganda and accuse Museveni of failing to prosecute corrupt senior officials.

Museveni has denied condoning corruption and claims that culprits, including lawmakers and ministers, are prosecuted whenever sufficient evidence is available.