Unidentified people drop piglets at NUP headquarters marked 'Joel 1.7 billion
Unidentified individuals have dropped piglets at the sealed-off National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Makerere-Kavule. One of the piglets was notably marked 'Joel 1.7 B'.
Makerere-Kavule resembled a barracks on payday this Monday morning as heavily armed security forces flooded the city suburb to prevent a scheduled news briefing at the NUP headquarters in Kampala.
Young Ugandans have been organising the march on social media to demand an end to government corruption.
They are partly inspired by their counterparts in Kenya, who organised mass demonstrations that led President William Ruto to abandon plans to increase taxes.
These protests have since evolved into calls for his resignation.
NUP Vice-President Lina Zedriga arrived at Makerere-Kavule in a striking red suit, but her entrance was cut short when police intervened. After a brief exchange, officers led Ms. Zedriga to a waiting van, but she refused to board. A melee ensued, and security personnel forcibly pushed her into the vehicle.
Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake also faced difficulties upon arriving in a slick saloon car, only to find spiked barricades at the entrance. The legislator, claiming he had no fuel to drive off, was towed away by police with him still behind the wheel.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that they had received intelligence suggesting NUP had called on MPs and councillors to attend a press conference.
Security forces have intensified their presence in Kampala ahead of a planned anti-corruption march to Parliament. As part of their preparations, security agencies have taken control of junctions and roundabouts leading to the city centre. In Busega, along the Kampala-Masaka highway, the roundabout is now under security control. Similar sights are evident at other key junctions and roundabouts.
At Constitutional Square, security personnel have erected tents, turning the grounds into a makeshift barracks in anticipation of potential unrest.
In Bwaise, joint security teams from the army and police surrounded the NUP headquarters, where the party was set to hold a press briefing. Commenting on the deployment, Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke explained that it was a precautionary measure to prevent potential disruptions.
"We have deployed extraordinarily because we have a security concern. Whenever we get reliable intelligence that certain activities are likely to subvert order, we heighten our deployments, and that is what we have done," Kituuma said. He also noted that the NUP's call for all supporters to attend the press conference required heightened security measures.
In a Saturday address to the country, President Museveni warned the protest organizers against disrupting the peace.
"We are busy producing wealth, and you here want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us," he said.
Despite these warnings, the protest organizers remain steadfast, insisting the march will proceed as planned.
