Youth in Uganda, commonly known as Generation Z, have abandoned the anti-corruption protests, as earlier planned on different social media platforms, mostly X, following police patrols in Uganda.
Whereas the protests flopped on Monday, July 23, 2024, the Ugandan youths re-strategized to resume their protest on Thursday, July 25th; however, due to heavy police deployment in different areas of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, many youths have abandoned the demonstrations.
According to James Mulinde, a businessman dealing with auto spare parts in Wakiseka, youths should try other approaches to express their discontent rather than holding protests that many turn into violence in the blink of an eye.
“It is not bad to express your discontent, and I know that corruption is bad, but the way we should address this issue is also important. In Kenya, the demonstrations started peacefully but later turned into violence, where shops were looted and there was a lot of damage in the country. I wouldn’t want the same thing to happen in Uganda,” Mulinde said.
He, however, appealed to the government to listen to the voices of the youth and take action accordingly to maintain peace in the country, adding that the youths have a constitutional prerogative to participate in the governance affairs of their country.
Muhamad Nsibambi, a boda rider, explained that some youths have been intimidated by the heavy deployment of police in Kampala and some by the arrests made yesterday.
“I would also be on the streets to protest against corruption because it has depleted the taxpayers’ money, but I have lost hope to protest because you can see how police are everywhere,” Nsibambi said.
However, police have since maintained that they will not allow anyone to disrupt public order and incite violence, imploring the protestors to exploit non-antagonistic approaches to express their dissatisfaction.
Currently, the situation in many parts of Kampala is calm enough to allow the businesses in the city to flourish.
