Uganda: Violent protests breakout in Mityana August 19 /update 1

Event

Demonstrations broke out in Mityana, a town about 60 km (37 mi) from Kampala, on Sunday, August 29, after rumors spread that their area Member of Parliament Francis Zaake’s condition had deteriorated while others claimed he had died of torture.  Protesters erected barricades on roads in Mityana blocking roads and paralyzing traffic for close to six hours before police officers fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd. According to a police spokesman, an officer fired at a taxi, which was ferrying football fans, wounding five people and killing one passenger. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and officials said that the officer would be arrested. Related protests are possible in the coming days. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

Security forces arrested 33 people on August 15 after demonstrators threw stones at President Yoweri Museveni's convoy in Arua (Northern region). Among those arrested include popular opposition politicians Kasiano Wadri, Robert Kyagulanyi (commonly known as Bobi Wine), Francis Zaake, Paul Mwiru, and Gerald Karuhanga. The government has charged the 33 suspects with treason for allegedly throwing stones at Museveni's vehicle. On August 16, opposition members accused security forces of beating and torturing the legislators, including Wine. However, the government has rejected the accusations and said that some of the suspects were injured during the chaos in Arua.

Advice

Individuals in Uganda, particularly in Kampala and Mityana, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and avoid talking about sensitive political topics in public.