The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) Party has asked Ugandans to emulate Kenyans and peacefully demonstrate against the high taxes in Uganda.

While addressing the press at the party headquarters on July 1, 2024, in Rubaga, the party spokesperson, Moses Matovu, urged Ugandans to not wait for their elected leaders but wake up from slumber and fight high taxes by themselves, as it is their constitutional right.

Matovu said that issues like unemployment, high taxes, and poor standards of living are affecting both Kenya and Uganda.

“Ugandans have a constitutional right to stand up and protest, so if anything is not satisfying, then they can show their discontentment in different ways, including demonstrations,” Matovu said.

However, Matovu emphasized the need to have peaceful protests rather than burning tires and buildings.

“I am not saying wake up and burn buildings, but you are mandated to fight for the change you need and fight for your rights peacefully,” Matovu added.

Matovu’s comments follow Kenyan demonstrations over the Finance Bill 2024, which introduced different taxes on particular items that the citizens deemed overly stretching and too much for the locals.

In the wake of the demonstrations and protests that later turned violent, people lost their lives, some properties were destroyed, and the Kenyan Parliament was set on fire. Among the damaged properties was the Uganda house in Nairobi, which protesters set on fire.