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Over the weekend, Umeme, Uganda’s main electricity distribution company, sent a message to Ugandans alerting them to a planned all-day power outage on Tuesday, July 23.road2024.
“Dear ***, there will be a power outage in your area from 8am to 5pm on Tuesday, July 23rd for maintenance work. Umeme Kireka, please accept our apologies,” Umeme’s office in Kireka sent a message to a customer on Saturday, July 20th.
We are told that Ugandans in other areas have received the same message.
Ugandans are now expecting widespread power outages that could last for days, with the Kampala metropolitan power system expected to be the worst affected.
There are concerns that internet networks may also be affected.
The power outage alarm sounded just as Ugandans were planning to march to parliament tomorrow to protest against rampant corruption in the country.
“UMEME is planning a nationwide shutdown on the day Ugandans decide to peacefully protest against corruption,” lamented one user on social media platform X.
Another user X posted: “Warning to the young people (#GenZ) planning to attend the #March2Parliament event on 23 July 2024, ‘Before you jeopardize your future, charge your gadgets/mobiles on the 22nd as there will be a total power cut on 23 July’.”
Umeme has been contacted for comment.
Ugandan police said they would not allow the protests.
Security operatives sealed off the venue of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Makerere-Kawule on Monday morning.
Piglets were dumped near the National Unity Party (NUP) office this morning in protest against alleged corruption by some officials there.
So far, police have arrested Kakamunan MP Hassan Kirumira, Babale County MP Francis Tebandeke and Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, among others.
NUP chairman Bobi Wine said the party was not leading the protest but supported the planners/youths’ cause.
Kampala city is heavily guarded.
The Netherlands Embassy in Kampala has issued a security warning to all registered citizens in the country.
“A demonstration has been announced for tomorrow (Tuesday, July 23). Protesters want to march to Parliament in Kampala. In general, there is a risk of violence during the demonstration. Therefore, we refer to the travel advice: avoid gatherings, crowds and demonstrations. Follow the news through the (local) media. Or, if applicable, ask your hotel for information,” a memo from Etro’s charge d’affaires reads.
President Yoweri Museveni has since warned protesters they would be “playing with fire” if they go ahead with plans to hold an anti-corruption march on parliament on Tuesday.
Young Ugandans have taken to social media to organize marches to demand an end to government corruption.
They were partly inspired by their counterparts in neighboring Kenya, where mass demonstrations were organized to pressure President William Ruto to abandon plans to increase taxes. The protests later turned into calls for his resignation.
In a televised address, Museveni warned Ugandan organizers that their protest plans would not be tolerated.
“We are busy creating wealth … and you want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us,” he said.
Critics accuse Museveni of ruling Uganda with an iron fist since taking power in 1986, but his supporters praise him for maintaining stability in the East African country.
The president also accused some protest organizers of “always working with foreigners” to create chaos in Uganda. He did not elaborate.
The police had previously announced that they would refuse to allow the march to take place.
A key protest leader told AFP they would continue their protests.
“We don’t need police permission to demonstrate peacefully. This is our constitutional right,” Luez Aloikin Obolose reportedly said.
Earlier this year, the British and American governments imposed sanctions on Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among over allegations of corruption.
She denies any wrongdoing.
The sanctions ban her from traveling to Britain and the United States. Britain also said it would impose an assets freeze on her.
Britain imposed similar sanctions on two government ministers sacked by Museveni for alleged corruption.
Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu were charged in court for stealing thousands of metal roofing sheets that were meant for vulnerable people in the northeastern Karamoja region.
Both men have denied the allegations.
In Kenya, President Ruto also called for an end to protests that have hit the government, saying: “Enough is enough.”
This is the largest protest in Kenya since Ruto won the 2022 general election and took office.
Activists planned further demonstrations on Tuesday, demanding his resignation and an end to what they called poor governance.
Ruto told a rally in western Bomet County that protest organisers could not remain “anonymous” but should “come out and tell us what the consequences of this violence will be”.
Last month, some protesters stormed parliament, set fire to parts of the building and stole the scepter, a symbol of the legislature’s authority.
Protest organizers said their demonstrations were largely peaceful.
They accuse the police and military of responding with violence and killing peaceful protesters.
At least 50 protesters have died and 413 injured since protests began on June 18, according to the state-funded Kenya National Human Rights Commission.
Kenya’s main opposition leader Raila Odinga expressed support for the protesters and said justice must come first for the victims before negotiations with the government could begin.
Odinga’s stance could undermine Ruto’s efforts to bring opposition members into the Cabinet – a move he hopes will help end youth-led protests.
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