By Frank Kamuntu
The United States Embassy in Uganda has condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters in Uganda on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Embassy said the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental to democracy.
It also lauded the media for ensuring the masses stayed informed throughout the protests.
The Embassy insisted that all arrested during the Tuesday protests have a right to fair hearing under the Uganda Constitution.
“The United States is concerned by the recent arrests of over 90 Ugandan citizens peacefully demonstrating against corruption and commends the courage of the media to ensure the Ugandan public stays informed.
“Under the Ugandan constitution, anyone detained has the right to a fair hearing and safe treatment, and we urge that any allegations of individuals assaulted in detention be investigated and perpetrators be held accountable,” the statement released on Friday reads.
The statement comes a day after President Yoweri Museveni said that the planners wanted to harm the citizens of Uganda during the protests.
According to Museveni, the demonstration had bad elements which included being funded by foreign sources that are allegedly meddling in the internal affairs of Africa.
“Some of the authors and participants of the demonstrations were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda. Those very bad things will come out in court when those arrested are being tried. It is possible, that some of the participants, did not know of the planned foreign funding and the planned bad things,” he said.
He warned that those involved should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those “shallow schemes” can be deployed.
Museveni condemned the alleged foreign funding behind the protest, attributing it to a long history of external interference in African affairs.
He assured the public that the details of their ‘evil’ plans would be disclosed in court as the arrested individuals face trial.
The Uganda President congratulated the armed forces and the security forces, as well as the citizens for not participating in the Tuesday July 23, anti-corruption march to Parliament.
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