Ugandans warm up for May 8th protests

The Ugandan populace is warming up for peaceful protests slated for May 8th where civil servants, students, opposition supporters, traders, vendors, taxi and Boda operators will convene on the streets of major cities to protest against poor governance, gross rights violations, inflation and high costs of living.

The demonstrations have been greeted with a warm social media reception with several youths sharing fliers embroiled with messages denouncing dictatorship.

A press statement signed off by the Uganda Freedom Activists details a cocktail of demands set by the protagonists of the demonstrations.

Police have in their previous pressers accused the NUP with masterminding the looming protests. On April 12th, the Police spokesperson Fred Enanga issued a statement that accused NUP with organizing the protests.

“As the Joint Security Agencies, we have obtained credible about plans by NUP to reactivate their structures, through various mobilisation drives, in cities and major towns, to cause acts of disorder and lawlessness in the country. This development comes at a time when the county has been very peaceful.

We therefore, call upon the NUP leadership to avoid such clandestine methods of work and instead use legitimate means to achieve their objectives. We also encourage them to emulate the other political parties like the FDC, NRM and DP, that have continued to work within the provisions of the POMA and in harmony with the police.

We would like to reassure the public especially the private and business sector, that we shall not allow any acts that are in breach of the prevailing peace and security in the country, to occur,” an April 12th police statement indicated.

NUP have not officially owned the demonstrations though they assert that peaceful protests are constitutional and a right for Ugandans.