By Emma Bwayo
Youths from Uganda have planned to march to Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, protesting the weak measures put in place to fight corruption in Uganda. They also aim to voice their discontent with Parliament, which has recently been accused of being the epicenter of corruption in the country.
This year alone, social media users launched an online exhibition against Parliament, unearthing numerous instances of corruption. Many young people concluded that Parliament had become a center of shady deals and unethical behavior.
With over 75% of Uganda’s population being youths and children, according to preliminary results by UBOS from the census, this concern affects everyone, particularly the younger generation whose future is at stake.
There are many fundamental questions to ask as young people warm up to march to Parliament, even as security forces have deployed heavily to block the planned demonstrations, including tough warnings from the head of state, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
These questions include:
What happens after July 23?
What is the plan for those who will be arrested?
Who benefits from this?
Where is the formal petition to be hand-delivered and how was it generated?
Is there a better way to achieve the desired outcome?
The biggest losers in this scenario are the hustlers on the streets of Kampala. They will have to close their shops as security engages in running battles with protesters, lose part of their day to thugs hiding in protests, and face significant disruption to their daily lives.
Uganda is our country, and we can do better.
The good news is that President Museveni has started targeting high-profile individuals involved in corruption and has shown signs of targeting more. We can show support by naming the corrupt individuals and holding them accountable. He is also open to dialogue, so we should list our demands and share our thoughts on the fight against corruption.
We can demand a youth-led fight against corruption, but unfortunately, most of the leading anti-corruption agencies are led by older individuals. The fundamental concern is whether they have been effective in the fight against corruption.
Corruption affects us all, but with a concerted effort and innovative approaches, we can empower the next generation to lead the fight against it, securing a brighter and more honest future for Uganda.
The writer is a broadcaster, and youth leader. NB: These are his views and not necessarily those of the Publisher-Editor
