14 Ugandan Opposition Officials Arrested and Charged for Protesting Against Kenya's Detention and Deportation of Colleagues

In Summary

• Ugandan police arrested 14 opposition officials and supporters as they marched to the Kenyan embassy in Kampala to protest Kenya's detention and deportation of their colleagues.
• The protests follow the deportation of 36 members of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) by Kenyan authorities on July 23. The deported members were later charged with terrorism-related offenses in Uganda, which they denied.
• The 14 arrested protesters, including two lawmakers, were charged with "being a public nuisance" after participating in what police described as "unlawful assembly activities." Four of them were released on bail, while the others were remanded to prison until their court appearance on August 7.
• The arrests come amid ongoing accusations by opposition critics and human rights campaigners that President Yoweri Museveni's government uses fabricated charges to suppress opposition. The government denies these allegations.

KAMPALA, UGANDA- On Monday, Ugandan police arrested 14 opposition officials and supporters from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) as they marched through Kampala, the capital, towards the Kenyan embassy. The protest was organized in response to the recent detention and deportation of their colleagues by Kenyan authorities. Local media outlets, including the Daily Monitor, reported the incident, which adds to the ongoing political tensions in the region.

The arrests on Monday follow a series of events that have stirred unrest among opposition supporters in both Uganda and Kenya. On July 23, Kenyan authorities detained 36 members of Uganda's FDC who had traveled to Kenya for a training course. The detained members were subsequently deported back to Uganda, where they were charged with terrorism-related offenses. According to their lawyers, the accused have denied all charges.

As a response to these actions, 14 members of the FDC, including two lawmakers, organized a march in Kampala to express their dissatisfaction with the treatment of their colleagues. The peaceful protest was short-lived, as police intervened and arrested the participants, citing "unlawful assembly activities."

Patrick Onyango, a spokesperson for the Ugandan police, confirmed the arrests and stated that the individuals were later charged in a magistrate's court with "being a public nuisance," according to a charge sheet seen by Reuters. All of the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Four of the arrested individuals were released on bail, while the remaining ten were remanded to prison. They are scheduled to appear in court on August 7. An FDC official who was present in court but requested anonymity stated that the party is preparing for the upcoming legal proceedings.

The recent arrests and charges against opposition members have reignited concerns about the political climate in Uganda. Opposition critics and human rights organizations have long accused President Yoweri Museveni's government of using fabricated charges to silence dissent and stifle opposition activities. The government, however, has consistently denied these allegations.

President Museveni, 79, has ruled Uganda since 1986, making him one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. Under his leadership, the East African nation of 46 million people has experienced significant political challenges, including accusations of human rights abuses and the suppression of political opposition.