The Ugandan police have challenged supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) and anti-corruption activists to proceed with their planned march through the streets of Kampala today, Tuesday, July 23.

This comes after weeks of mounting tension, as Ugandan youths have been mobilizing nationwide protests against alleged corruption in Parliament, allegedly orchestrated by Speaker Annet Anita Among.

Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke announced on Monday that the police, in conjunction with other security agencies, are fully prepared to thwart any activities that threaten to plunge the nation into chaos.

Rusoke emphasized that the authorities have intensified their presence in the capital, particularly around NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, in anticipation of what they describe as subversive actions culminating in the march to Parliament.

“We cannot surrender this country to such reckless processions,” Rusoke declared. “Whenever we have reliable intelligence that certain activities are likely to disrupt order, we heighten our deployment. NUP called everyone from all walks of life. We are saying the longer you take to recognize the rights of others, the longer you will not enjoy your rights too.”

By Sunday evening, security forces had already begun surrounding NUP headquarters, and by Monday morning, police and military personnel nearly outnumbered the party’s supporters, who were barred from accessing the premises. This display of force underscores the authorities’ determination to suppress the planned demonstrations.

NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, known popularly as Bobi Wine, took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that while NUP is not organizing the march to Parliament, they fully support those who are. This statement came after several NUP leaders, including Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake Butebo, were arrested and charged with various offences, including unlawful assembly.

Zaake faced additional charges of reckless driving, driving without a license, and obstructing lawful officers, and he, along with nine others, has been remanded to prison until Thursday.

“For the record, the 23rd July #March2Parliament protests are not organized by NUP. But we support them with all our might because we are #PeoplePower and we absolutely believe in the power of the people. We support every effort to protest against injustice, corruption, and misrule,” Kyagulanyi asserted.

He accused the regime of trying to portray the protests as a partisan initiative to weaken the movement’s momentum and diminish its broader appeal. “The #AntiCorruptionProtests as we know them are organized by the young people of Uganda regardless of their age, religion, tribe, or political affiliation! The criminal regime and its antics will certainly fail!!” Kyagulanyi added passionately.

Rusoke, however, cautioned that neither NUP nor any protest organizers have absolute rights and must collaborate with security agencies to prevent disruptions to daily life.

“You need to collaborate with existing regimes on the ground, especially the security regime, to see how we can plan and ensure nothing is affecting the lives, nothing affecting other people’s businesses,” he advised.

Security agencies have declared that no one will be allowed to march on the streets, insisting that activists and NUP consider the needs of other city residents who rely on the streets for trade and safe mobility. Over the weekend, President Museveni sternly warned those planning the demonstrations that they were “playing with fire.”

As the city braces for what could be a day of significant unrest, the standoff between Uganda’s security forces and opposition supporters highlights the ongoing struggle for political space and the fight against corruption in the country. The world watches closely as Uganda teeters on the edge of a potential political showdown.