By Nathan Eyagu

President Yoweri Museveni has issued a chilling warning about the fate of youth currently in custody following Tuesday’s high-profile Anti-Corruption march to Parliament.

In a series of provocative posts on X (formerly Twitter), Museveni commended the security forces for successfully thwarting the mass mobilization and thanked Ugandans who chose not to participate. However, his message took a darker turn as he discussed the implications for those arrested during the demonstration.

“The very bad things they were plotting will come to light in court,” Museveni warned. He suggested that while some participants might have been unaware of any sinister foreign funding or plans, their disregard for police advice led to their current predicament.

His comments come in the wake of ongoing anti-corruption protests that erupted on Tuesday, resulting in over 60 activists being detained on charges of “common nuisance, idle and disorderly conduct.”

On Thursday, Kampala was still on high alert, with security forces, including soldiers and anti-riot police dressed in camouflage, patrolling the streets to contain the demonstrators who returned for another round of protests.

Museveni pointed fingers at "foreign forces" for fueling the youth-led unrest, describing the demonstration as tainted by two major threats. First, he accused foreign entities of orchestrating the protests, citing their long history of meddling in African affairs—from slave trade to neo-colonialism and economic exploitation.

“The second threat,” he added, “is that some demonstrators were planning dangerous activities against the Ugandan people.” He suggested that even the police might not fully grasp the gravity of the situation.

In a stark contrast, Museveni reminisced about a more harmonious anti-corruption march in 2019, led by Lt Col Edith Nakalema of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. That protest, which was well-coordinated with the police, saw peaceful participation from various societal sectors, including bishops and soldiers.

Reiterating his stance against foreign interference, Museveni urged those receiving foreign funds to report to the Minister of State for Ethics. He reassured that reporting would not lead to arrests, as the government is focused on safeguarding Uganda from external manipulation.

Museveni expressed relief that the recent protests did not turn violent and praised the intelligence-driven operation that prevented further unrest. He reaffirmed his commitment to combating corruption and called on Ugandans to avoid those he labeled as "mistake makers."