The kidnappers held her captive for nearly three weeks, demanding up to $1 million before accepting about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million). During her captivity, they cut off two of her fingers and sent them alongside a video of her pleading for help to pressure her family into paying the ransom.
Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
“Recently we were in Kalangala for the by-election and we appealed to Justice Byabakama to ensure that we have a free and fair election but after the elections he only came out to lament after he had seen the chaos and injustice by the military and state goons. Sadly he didn’t have enough stamina to cancel the results, which is absurd and we wouldn’t want to go through the same in these coming Local Council elections,” Buwembo said.
The protesters had seven key demands, among them being the resignation of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, the resignation of the four back bencher commissioners, reducing the number of Members of Parliament (MPs), and reducing the MPs' salaries and allowances to Ugx 3 million, among others.
The protesters put forward several demands, including the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among and the four backbench commissioners, a reduction in the number of Ugandan MPs, an audit into MPs' lifestyles, the resignation of any MPs involved in corruption scandals and a reduction in MPs' salaries and allowances to a maximum of Ugx 3 million.