Ugandans Defy Repression, Demand Change Through Creative Protests
In the face of growing repression, Ugandans are finding innovative ways to hold their political leaders accountable and demand change. Despite limited options, including increasingly unreliable elections and a vilified civil society, Ugandans are using online platforms and live demonstrations to expose state failures and corruption.
The latest example of this defiance is the planned anti-corruption march on July 23, inspired by the success of Kenyan youth who forced their government to reverse course on unpopular taxes. However, the potential for violence is real, as seen in the 2020 protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 54 people and the disappearance of many more.
President Museveni has maintained power for 38 years through a system of patronage, co-opting potential rivals and intimidating others. A genuine campaign against corruption would threaten this system, and he is likely to characterize a mass movement against corruption as a national security threat.
Despite the risks, Ugandans are refusing to be silenced. For over a year, thousands have contributed to online “exhibitions” that expose state failures, from potholes in Kampala to substandard healthcare and corruption in Parliament. These efforts have already led to some results, including the filling of large potholes and the arrest of parliamentarians.
Ugandans are using humor and anger to expose the self-dealing of senior officials and the different rules that apply to elites versus the rest of society. The country’s young, digitally-savvy population is driving this movement, and their demands for change may eventually become impossible for the government to ignore.
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