Today in History: Uganda's Youth March Against Parliamentary Corruption

What the report says

Nile Post’s “Today in History” article revisits the July 23, 2024 youth-led attempt to march on Uganda’s Parliament, describing it as a major moment in civic activism focused on corruption and public accountability. The protest, organised mainly online under the hashtag #March2Parliament, drew hundreds of young Ugandans and was framed less around party politics than around demands for transparency, lower parliamentary costs and an end to misuse of public resources.

According to Nile Post, public anger had been building over allegations of excessive spending by Parliament, including leaked records and controversy over Shs1.7 billion in “service awards” reportedly awarded to four Parliamentary Commissioners. The article also says international sanctions against senior Ugandan officials over corruption allegations, along with the example of Kenya’s Gen Z protests, helped encourage young Ugandans to mobilise independently.

Ahead of the march, President Yoweri Museveni warned protesters against proceeding, and police did not approve the demonstration. Security forces deployed heavily in Kampala, blocking routes to Parliament with roadblocks and armoured vehicles. Protesters responded by appearing in small groups across the city with anti-corruption placards before being dispersed. Nile Post reports that more than 100 activists were arrested and later charged with offences such as being a common nuisance and disobeying lawful orders, with some remanded to Luzira and Kitalya prisons.

The article presents the march as a turning point that increased scrutiny of Parliament and fed wider calls for oversight of public spending. It also links the controversy to later anti-corruption investigations involving parliamentary officials, including inquiries connected to former Speaker Anita Among by 2026.