Three activists apprehended by security forces during a press conference in Kampala on Wednesday have been remanded for their alleged involvement in Tuesday's anti-corruption march.
The activists from civil society organisations, Abigail Kalenda, Denis Pato, and Ruth Nalunkuma, were taken into custody by security personnel as they were preparing to address the media at Hotel Eliana in Ntinda, Kampala.
They were swiftly taken to an undisclosed location.
Security forces raided the hotel around 1:30pm, surrounding the venue and detaining the activists who were about to speak to the media regarding the anti-corruption protests.
The trio was charged with unlawful assembly at City Hall Court and remanded until Thursday morning.
Subsequently, they were formally charged with unlawful assembly under sections 61 and 62 of the Penal Code Act.
The charge sheet alleges that the three, along with others, behaved in a manner that caused a reasonable fear of a breach of peace.
Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, who was present in court to stand surety, confirmed that the case was adjourned due to the late hour.
The activists were remanded until Thursday morning (tomorrow).
On Tuesday, a group of Uganda’s Generation Zoomers (Gen Z) protested against the corruption within Parliament and the country.
Several young people who tried to march to Parliament in Kampala were arrested by a joint team of military and police personnel.
They were charged with common nuisance at Buganda Road and Nakawa Chief Magistrate Courts and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Among those detained were former Rubaga South MP candidate and activist Habib Buwembo, and comedian Samuel Okanya, known as Sammy.
The protesters have presented various demands, including the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, and the four backbench commissioners, a reduction in the number of Ugandan MPs, and an audit into MPs' lifestyles.
They are also calling for the resignation of any MPs involved in corruption scandals and a reduction in MPs' salaries and allowances to a maximum of Shs3 million.
Corruption remains a significant issue in Uganda, with several major scandals involving public officials. The country is ranked 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's corruption index.
