Police have discovered a racket of a family that has been financing youth to execute anti-corruption protests in Kampala, calling on the Speaker of Parliament Anitah Annet Among to resign.
Stella Nanyombi, 32, who is a banker in one of the prominent banks around town has been using her salary and earnings from businesses to manage the expenses of a section of protestors.
Angry about how the government operates, Nanyombi says she would make for the youth t-shirts, facilitate their movements, and cater to their general welfare.
The youth had become synonymous with placard activism which she says was a smart way of getting the message to the concerned audience.
According to her, the urge to finance these protests came from how things were running in the country, the high taxes, and the cost of living which were taking a toll on her and the people who she interacted with daily and felt she would do something to turn things around.
“I knew I would not make it to the streets myself so I opted to use my money to pass on a message. I have been funding these protests for some time now and I am sure it is the only language our government can listen to,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nanyombi being a family person, attention was drawn to her husband Mr Kiwanuka Fredrick whose incomes were also frozen since they were also linked to the protest.
Police said her involvement in the financing of the protests fueled the increase in the youth that were taking to the streets to protest for various reasons such as corruption, rule of law, and exorbitant expenditure by parliament.
Her family is accused of financing protesters, mobilizing youths from the slums of Kyengera, Budo, and Nsangi where she resides, and directing them to infiltrate the protests.
“This family is wanted for their unlawful activities of financing the demonstrations,” one of the officers at the Kibuli Criminal Investigations Department said, adding that they arrested a number of the people in line with the protests during the July 23 protests and the subsequent ones.
The Police claim the alleged funds were used to fuel the protests, which have been characterized by violence and attempts to destabilize the democratically elected government.
“I want to ask what people like this good nuclear family benefit from funding chaos. We are going to call them out and tell them if they are not interested in the peace and are going to sponsor violence and anarchy, they either style up or leave the country,” he said.
Background
The government said it was “deeply concerned” by the funding of the protests. President Museveni stated that he has intelligence indicating the anti-corruption protests, are funded by foreign entities.
According to Museveni, the individuals involved in the protests were planning “very bad things against Ugandans,” and the nation will learn about these plans when the arrested protesters are tried in court.
The President has been vocal in condemning corruption in the country, leading some to view his opposition to the anti-corruption demonstrations as contradictory.
The problems driving the recent protests are hardly confined to Uganda alone. High unemployment is taking its toll on educated urban youth in many parts of Africa. In addition, many leaders across the continent are implementing economic reforms that disproportionately burden ordinary citizens, while elected officials continue to enjoy extravagant lifestyles.
Many African countries have records of human rights abuses that go unpunished. Achieving a more stable and prosperous future for Africa will require action in all these areas.
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