MUSEVENI’S ANTI-PROTEST WARNING: DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE!

Looks like someone’s nervous about people power. Uganda’s president addressed the nation to warn citizens - especially Gen Z - against taking part in anti-corruption protests on Tuesday (23rd July). Yoweri Museveni clearly doesn’t want to see the kind of mass-rallies that have swept Kenya and forced its president, William Ruto, to make concessions - though in this video, he claims what he’s really worried about is protesters stepping on the wares of street sellers! He said people should just come and see him for a friendly chat if they want to see any changes… as if!

Museveni also presented himself as a defender of the ‘revolution.’ He came to power in a military coup in 1986, when he wrested control from Milton Obote. Since then, he’s ruled with an iron fist, cracking down on opposition figures such as Bobi Wine and Kizza Besigye with house arrests and violence.

Tuesday’s planned protests are largely driven by growing public discontent with the government. In his address, Museveni said he and his team were ‘wealth creators’ - and warned protesters that they’d be ‘playing with fire’ if they dared to gather en masse in the capital Kampala. That’s created concerns that there will be violent scenes, as were seen in Nairobi a few weeks back, when peaceful protesters were met with deadly police brutality.

Do you think Ugandan’s will heed their president’s warning?

Video credit: @ubctvuganda