Anti-corruption youths launch campaign against Regional Parliament sittings

Kampala August 23—Anti-corruption youths have launched a campaign to hold anti-corruption protests at the venues of the planned regional Parliamentary sittings calling for the resignation of the speaker of Parliament.

Launching their campaign Thursday in Jinja, Eastern Uganda during heavy rain, the anti-corruption youths holding placards with words ‘Say No to corruption, No to regional sittings’ and calling for the resignation of Speaker Anita Among, the youths made their way through the streets of Jinja city to the City hall.

Benjamin Akisu, a student at Kyambogo University, who led the protest, criticised Regional Parliament sittings saying it is a misuse of public funds. He said the initiative spearheaded by the Speaker, Anita Among, is a scheme to siphon taxpayers’ money. “This is the time to end this thuggery. They have stolen our money and we are here to fight corruption”, Akisu declared, adding that they are to hold similar anti-corruption protests at all venues where Regional Parliament sittings are scheduled to be held.

“Next week we are going to Kaunda grounds in Gulu to show our dissatisfaction because whatever is being done is wastage of resources yet there are sectors like health, education that are badly off,” protesting youths declared.

The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, on May 16th 2024 announced holding Regional Parliament sessions as a way of taking the legislative process closer to the people in different parts of the country. The first of these sittings is set to take place in Gulu City next week on August 29 and 30th at the Kaunda grounds in Berdege-Layibi division. Similar Parliament Regional sittings will be held in Mbarara, Mbale and Masaka on dates yet to be announced.

Parliament allocated 20billion shillings for the initiative with each region sitting allocated 5billion shillings.

The Jinja protest followed a recent incident where police in Kampala arrested two of the 18 students involved in an Anti-corruption march to Parliament on August 15.