What began as a series of peaceful protests against Uganda’s soaring inflation has turned increasingly bloody, with clashes between police and demonstrators in the capital Kampala on Friday leaving at least five dead, more than 100 injured and 700 in jail. The government’s use of excessive police force on those taking part in the protests that started three weeks ago has already prompted criticism of President Yoweri Museveni’s tactics, even from his supporters. Now many are wondering whether the police’s deadly actions — and the public’s violent reaction — are enough to bring him down.
The latest riots came a day after police operatives arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been a target since he started the walk-to-work campaign to protest the government’s neglect of rising fuel and food prices. On Thursday, police smashed his car window with the butt of a pistol, pepper sprayed him at close range and whisked him to jail for the fourth time in three weeks.
The next day, protesters angry at Besigye’s treatment lit bonfires in the streets of Kampala and threw stones at police and military, who responded by firing live ammunition. Violence also erupted in five other towns, including Entebbe and Mbale. Workers hid in their offices and bolted-down shops, while others retreated home, as heavily armed police vehicles patrolled near-empty streets ringing with the sound of gunfire.
Long-time observers say that had Museveni ignored the first walk-to-work protest on April 11, few Ugandans would have paid any attention to the campaign. Instead, the president’s security forces beat and tear-gassed protesters to quash a rally that cut across political and tribal lines — and outraged a public that after decades of upheaval following independence has come to value stability above all else and usually shies away from political activity.
