Uganda arrest naked anti-graft protester

Ugandan police arrested three semi-naked protesters in the capital Kampala on Monday as they marched against corruption in the East African nation, their lawyer said.

The women, who belong to a civil society organisation known as the “Uganda Freedom Activists” linked to the youth-led anti-government demonstrations earlier this year, were detained as they walked towards parliament.

“Save the women, save the children, save the future and end corruption,” shouted the women who had “no corruption” painted on their bodies, according to witnesses and images online.

“Uganda is not poor, they are stealing our wealth,” read one placard.

Another woman had “Kiteezi was preventable” daubed across her back, a reference to a huge rubbish tip landslide in Kampala in August that killed several dozen people including children.

“There were three young ladies protesting against corruption and they were arrested and now detained at Kampala Central Police station,” the women’s lawyer Eron Kiiza told AFP.

He said it was not clear what they were being charged with.

Kiiza said among those detained was law student Praise Aloikin Opoloje, who had been among those heading Gen-Z-led protests in Uganda in July that were inspired by widespread anti-government demonstrations in neighbouring Kenya.

Graft is a major issue in Uganda, with several major scandals involving public officials, and the country is ranked a lowly 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption index.

Earlier this year, the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on several Ugandan officials including parliamentary speaker Anita Among and two former ministers over alleged corruption.

One of the women arrested had “Anita resign” written down her legs, a long-running call for Among to leave her post.