The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the government of selectively applying the law to political demonstrations, citing last week’s Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) march to the Turkish Embassy in Kampala as evidence of what it described as unequal treatment of opposition groups.
FDC Deputy Secretary for Publicity, Publication and Documentation Mulindwa Walid Lubega said the September 18 PLU demonstration demonstrated what he called double standards in the enforcement of laws governing public assemblies. PLU supporters marched from Lugogo Cricket Oval to the Turkish Embassy in Kololo, demanding that Turkey hand over Ugandan political activist Fred Lumbuye to face criminal charges in Uganda.
The demonstration was led by PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla and followed a directive from PLU chairman Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. (PLU). Lubega contrasted the PLU demonstration with what he said has been the treatment of protests organised by opposition parties, including the FDC, arguing that Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration.
“The right to demonstrate is now a monopoly exclusively enjoyed by those in yellow and their PLU cousins,” Lubega said. He accused security agencies of responding to opposition demonstrations with arrests, beatings and tear gas, while allowing ruling-party-aligned groups to demonstrate. Lubega called on the Uganda Police Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary to apply the law equally, saying political affiliation should not determine how citizens exercising their constitutional rights are treated.
The FDC also criticised the ongoing anti-corruption operations led by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, describing them as insufficient to address systemic corruption. Barugahara has been conducting nationwide inspections under the “Expose the Corrupt in Local Government” campaign, during which officials in several districts have been arrested or subjected to investigations over alleged corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement of public resources. In recent days, the operations have included arrests in Tororo, Manafwa and Sironko.
Lubega questioned the outcome of such arrests and argued that the government should instead focus on implementing recommendations contained in reports by the Auditor General, Inspectorate of Government and parliamentary accountability committees. He cited concerns over the implementation of recommendations from accountability institutions, arguing that failure to act on such reports undermines efforts to combat corruption.
The FDC called for greater enforcement of recommendations from the Auditor General, Inspectorate of Government, Public Accounts Committee, COSASE and other parliamentary accountability committees. Lubega also criticised the use of public rallies and media coverage during anti-corruption operations, arguing that investigations and prosecutions should be handled by the legally mandated institutions.
The party further raised concerns about the handling of accountability issues surrounding the Lubowa Specialised Hospital project, alleging that the government has restricted parliamentary scrutiny of the project. These claims were not independently established in the statement. The FDC also criticised the use of serious criminal charges, including treason and firearms-related offences, in cases involving political opponents.
Lubega cited the ongoing treason trial involving former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, saying the party was concerned about the circumstances surrounding their arrest and the evidence being presented in court. His remarks followed testimony by prosecution witness Andrew Wilson, also known as Orlando, who told the High Court during cross-examination that two pistols and alleged fake currency were already inside a Nairobi apartment before the accused arrived.
Reports on the proceedings said Wilson also acknowledged working for the Ugandan government. The witness’s testimony is part of an ongoing court case and represents evidence being tested through the judicial process; it has not established a final finding of wrongdoing by the state. The FDC called for a review of political cases involving treason, firearms and alleged military equipment, as well as respect for the jurisdiction of civilian courts and the right to a fair and timely trial.
Lubega said the party was not seeking to shield anyone accused of a crime but insisted that the state should prove criminal allegations through independent courts. “If a citizen has committed treason, the State must prove it in an independent and competent court,” he said. The FDC further called for an end to what it described as the use of criminal prosecution as a substitute for political competition and demanded equal protection of the law for all Ugandans-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
