In recent years, the Ugandan government has shown increasing disregard for the rule of law, arresting protestors, and activists and restricting access to public opinion and gatherings.
But, for Brian Mbaziira Kakumba, a metering engineering officer at Umeme Kabalagala branch, the fight is more important than the risks. He asks, “We are the young population in this country, if we do not speak up against the corrupt leadership and how it is not working for us, then who will?”
During the July 23 MarchtoParliament protests, Mbaziira led a group of youth in areas of Bunga after police and the military deployed heavily in various parts of Kampala where small groups of protesters had gathered, waving placards and shouting slogans denouncing corruption.
This did not sit well with some personnel in the security forces who have since put an eye on Mbaziira to mention the people who are not only funding his placard activism but also having him recruit more youth to follow his cause.
According to Mbaziira, unknown people are giving him sleepless nights to confess who is funding him to lead youth in his area about placard activism.
He has demonstrated leadership, courage, and ingenuity in a context where protest and activism bear great risks, walking a tightrope between encouraging youth voices and fighting for human rights while avoiding the scrutiny of government agents.
“No one is funding my placard activism. I am concerned with how things are rotting in our government today and feel obliged to speak up. Using placards helps us get the attention we need to have our message relayed,” he says.
The 38-year-old shares that much as he is being pushed to the wall by unidentified people to stop placard activism, he is not about to relent because it is what he knows best in terms of communicating.
With lots of uncertainty looming about what he is doing next to keep his family and his life safe, Mbaziira is not sure what is in store for him.
Much as he is bent on continuing to speak what he considers as the fact with hopes that at some point, the people tarnishing the country’s image will change their hearts and do what is expected of them, he fears that at some point, it will cost his life and that of his family.
At least 45 people were detained by security personnel during the crackdown, according to Chapter Four Uganda, a human rights group that is offering legal services to the detainees.
Several Members of Parliament and commissioners of parliament face corruption charges, with protesters calling on Parliament Speaker Anita Among to resign after she was implicated in a graft scandal and sanctioned by the United Kingdom in June.
The July 23 march was organised on social media with the hashtag #StopCorruption by young Ugandans, some 15 million citizens out of a population of 45 million are under the age of 35, according to the latest census data.
Background
Anti-corruption crusaders took to the streets of Kampala on July 23 to protest against alleged corruption and human rights abuse. The protest aimed to pressure parliament to enact stiff legislation to combat corruption and patronage politics.
Following separate hearings in different Kampala Courts, over 80 people were remanded at Luzira Prison until July 30 and August 8 for their role in the July 23 anti-corruption demonstration.
The demonstration comes on the heels of a recent corruption scandal involving high-ranking government officials, parliamentary commissioners, and the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who was sanctioned by the UK and US governments for her role in embezzling funds meant for vulnerable communities.
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