Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent arrests of anti-corruption protesters in Kampala, demanding their immediate release.

On July 23 and 24, Ugandan police detained over 60 individuals in the capital, who were demonstrating against government corruption.

HRW criticized the crackdown, stating, “This latest suppression of protesters is a clear violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech, as enshrined in Uganda’s constitution and international law. The Ugandan authorities should drop the charges against these activists and address the issues they are highlighting.”

The protests, influenced by similar youth-led movements in neighboring Kenya, were organized by young Ugandans mobilizing through social media. Their demands included the resignation of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who was implicated in a February corruption scandal, and a reduction in the salaries of Ugandan parliamentarians, among the highest in the world.

In response, police used force to disperse the demonstrators, arresting many and quickly charging them with “common nuisance,” a colonial-era offense often used by the government to quash legitimate protests.

One protester, Praise Aloikin, expressed determination despite anticipating government resistance. “We know we will face pushback from the authorities, but we hope this will encourage Ugandans to exercise their right to protest,” said Aloikin, who was subsequently arrested and detained.

The police have continued to target young activists, with three more arrests occurring on Wednesday as they attempted to hold a press conference.

Officials had previously tried to discourage the protest organizers during a meeting on July 18. Aloikin, present at the meeting, reported that the officials attempted to intimidate them, referencing fatalities in recent Kenyan protests.

Ahead of the scheduled protests, President Yoweri Museveni issued a warning to demonstrators, stating they were “playing with fire.”

This incident is part of a broader pattern of Ugandan authorities cracking down on activists, opposition members, and human rights defenders, particularly those raising concerns about issues like the oil sector and police brutality.