Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned protesters they would be “playing with fire” if they go ahead with plans to stage an anti-corruption march to parliament on Tuesday.
Young Ugandans have staged a social media march to demand an end to government corruption.
They were partly inspired by their counterparts in neighbouring Kenya, who staged mass protests that forced President William Ruto to scrap planned tax hikes. The protests have since morphed into calls for his resignation.
In a televised address, Mr Museveni warned protest organisers in Uganda that the demonstration they planned would not be tolerated.
“We are busy creating wealth… and you are here to bother us. You are playing with fire because we cannot let you bother us,” he said.
Mr Museveni has been accused by critics of ruling Uganda with harsh policies since taking power in 1986, but his supporters praise him for maintaining stability in the East African nation.
The president also accused some protest organizers of “always working with foreigners” to create chaos in Uganda. He did not elaborate.
Police had previously stated that they refused to grant permission for the march to take place.
One of the main protest leaders told AFP news agency that they would continue to carry out the demonstration.
“We don’t need police permission to hold a peaceful protest. It’s our constitutional right,” Louez Aloikin Opolose was quoted as saying.
Earlier this year, the British and US governments imposed sanctions on Uganda’s parliament speaker, Anita Annet Among, after she was accused of corruption.
She has denied any wrongdoing.
The sanctions ban her from traveling to Britain and the United States. Britain also said it would freeze her assets.
The UK has imposed similar sanctions on two government ministers sacked by Mr Museveni after they were also accused of corruption.
Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu have been charged in court over a scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the northeastern Karamoja region.
Both denied the allegations.
In Kenya, President Ruto also called for an end to protests affecting his government, saying: “Enough is enough.”
It was the biggest protest in Kenya since Mr Ruto took office after winning the 2022 election.
Activists have planned further protests on Tuesday to demand his resignation and an end to what they call mismanagement.
Speaking at a rally in western Bomet County, Mr Ruto said protest organisers could not remain “anonymous” and should “come forward and tell us what this violence will do”.
Last month, some protesters stormed the parliament building, set fire to part of the building and stole the mace, a symbol of the legislature’s power.
Protest organizers said their demonstration was largely peaceful.
They accused the police and military of reacting with force and killing peaceful protesters.
According to the state-funded Kenya National Human Rights Commission, at least 50 protesters have been killed and 413 injured since the protests began on June 18.
Kenya’s main opposition leader Raila Odinga has expressed solidarity with protesters, saying there must be justice for the victims before any talks with the government can take place.
Mr Odinga’s position could undermine Mr Ruto’s efforts to include opposition members in his cabinet – a move they hope will help end youth-led protests.
