On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Gen Z (Generation Z) in Uganda organised a peaceful walk to parliament. Gen Z, is a term used to describe the generation born between 1995 and 2010, also known as the “zoomer”, meaning the first generation to zoom the internet. Though the protest was joined by Gen X and Y but Gen Z dominated it. The walk was in the name of 7 demands that they felt needed urgent attention, these include; resignation of the speaker of Uganda Anita Among due to the endless corruption scandals she is involved in, resignation of four backbench commissioners, namely; Mathias Mpuuga, Prossy Akampurira, Ester Afoyochan and Solomon Silwany, the reduction of the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in parliament, the resignation of all MPs involved in any corruption scandals, auditing the lifestyles of all MPs and publicising it, cutting the salaries and allowances of all MPs to 3 million, and finally allowing Ugandans to exercise their democratic right to peacefully assemble without blockage.
Following the Gen Z’s protests in Kenya, on July 23, 2024, Uganda was no exception as the Gen Z’s peacefully protested and put 7 demands to the Government of Uganda.
First was demand for the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Anita Among due to the endless corruption scandals she has been involved in some of which earned her sanctions from the US, UK and Dubai.
The demand for the resignation of the four back bench commissioners namely; Mathia Mpuuga, Prossy Akamprira, Ester Afoyochan and Solomon Silwany provoked by the allegations that the four Members of Parliament allocated themselves 1.7 billion Ugandan shillings ($457,000), tax payers’ money as a pay for the work they are doing. Mathias Mpuuga reportedly walked away with 500 million Ugandan shillings ($134,435) and Prossy Akampurira got 400 million ugx ($107,548) and the other two with yet undisclosed amounts.
Reduction of number of MPs came as another demand. The Parliament of Uganda has a total of over 520 MPs. The Gen Z’s demanded for the reduction of this number of MPs for reasons that a lot of tax payers’ money is being used in paying their salaries, allowances and they some of them keep involving themselves in corruption and misappropriate tax payers’ money.
Resignation of all MPs involved in any corruption scandal. The current parliament has had an unending corruption scandals. The President of Uganda, His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni handed a list of 12 MPs and Finance Ministry officials who were involved in budget distortion scandal. Many more other corruption scandals have been there in the Parliament that the citizens are tired of.
Auditing the lifestyle of all MPs and publicising it emerged as one of the demands of the Gen Z’s.
In June 2022, a sum of 2.4 billion ugx ($645,290) was spent on two cars one for the Speaker and the other for her Deputy. There are many other luxurious expenses like
Cutting salaries of all MPs. Despite the crippling economy of Uganda, the MPs earn higher salaries than MPs in EU States. Ugandan MPs earn about 35,000,000 ugx ($9,410) much more than many EU MPs yet Uganda’s economy is greatly funded by EU countries. It is only MPs from Italy, Austria and Germany that earn more than Ugandan MPs. This comparison was done from the website of Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates.
The last demand was allowing Ugandans to exercise their democratic rights to peacefully assemble without blockage. Most peaceful protests in the Country have always ended up in use of tear gas, deployment of Special Force Command etc. Many arrests and injuries have always resulted from many of these protests.
Following the Gen Z’s protests in Kenya, on July 23, 2024, Uganda was no exception as the Gen Z’s peacefully protested and put 7 demands to the Government of Uganda.
First was demand for the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Anita Among due to the endless corruption scandals she has been involved in some of which earned her sanctions from the US, UK and Dubai.
The demand for the resignation of the four back bench commissioners namely; Mathia Mpuuga, Prossy Akamprira, Ester Afoyochan and Solomon Silwany provoked by the allegations that the four Members of Parliament allocated themselves 1.7 billion Ugandan shillings ($457,000), tax payers’ money as a pay for the work they are doing. Mathias Mpuuga reportedly walked away with 500 million Ugandan shillings ($134,435) and Prossy Akampurira got 400 million ugx ($107,548) and the other two with yet undisclosed amounts.
Reduction of number of MPs came as another demand. The Parliament of Uganda has a total of over 520 MPs. The Gen Z’s demanded for the reduction of this number of MPs for reasons that a lot of tax payers’ money is being used in paying their salaries, allowances and they some of them keep involving themselves in corruption and misappropriate tax payers’ money.
Resignation of all MPs involved in any corruption scandal. The current parliament has had an unending corruption scandals. The President of Uganda, His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni handed a list of 12 MPs and Finance Ministry officials who were involved in budget distortion scandal. Many more other corruption scandals have been there in the Parliament that the citizens are tired of.
Auditing the lifestyle of all MPs and publicising it emerged as one of the demands of the Gen Z’s.
In June 2022, a sum of 2.4 billion ugx ($645,290) was spent on two cars one for the Speaker and the other for her Deputy. There are many other luxurious expenses like
Cutting salaries of all MPs. Despite the crippling economy of Uganda, the MPs earn higher salaries than MPs in EU States. Ugandan MPs earn about 35,000,000 ugx ($9,410) much more than many EU MPs yet Uganda’s economy is greatly funded by EU countries. It is only MPs from Italy, Austria and Germany that earn more than Ugandan MPs. This comparison was done from the website of Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates.
The last demand was allowing Ugandans to exercise their democratic rights to peacefully assemble without blockage. Most peaceful protests in the Country have always ended up in use of tear gas, deployment of Special Force Command etc. Many arrests and injuries have always resulted from many of these protests.
The Wolf (2024, July 23). The 7 demands of the march to Parliament the Protesters want. https://dailywolf.co.ug/9581/the-7-demands-of-the-march-to-parliament-protesters-want/
The Observer (2024, June 1). Uganda to engage US on Anita among Sanctions, Minister Oryem. https://observer.ug/index.php/news/headlines/81492-uganda-to-engage-us-on-anita-among-sanctions-minister-oryem
Godfrey, O (2021, September 29). Ugandan MPs earn more salaries than those in EU States. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/ugandan-mps-earn-higher-salaries-than-those-in-eu-states/2376621
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