Parliament to receive anti-corruption petition amid planned protest

KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | The Ugandan parliament said it is ready to receive a petition from activists who plan to march to the parliament on Tuesday in an anti-corruption protest.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the parliament said it has learned that there is a group of activists who want to deliver a petition.

“As a parliament, we have not been notified as is the rule; however, since we are a citizen-centered parliament, we are open to receiving their petition,” the statement said. “Since we don’t entertain crowds, we shall allow a maximum of four petitioners to access the parliament.”

However, it warned that it is not responsible for what happens to the petitioners outside the parliament.

This came after police warned that it will block the protest, noting that allowing it would result in “significant traffic congestion, disruption of trade, and disturbances to public order.”

Police and other security agencies on Monday started deploying more personnel in the city center ahead of the planned protest.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in a live televised address Saturday to the nation, accused the opposition of working with foreign elements to cause chaos in the country through riots, illegal demonstrations, and inconsiderate processions. ■