Ugandan Scholar and activist, Stella Nyanzi and other protesters have been arrested arrested in Kampala for carrying out peaceful demonstrations against the ‘’Slow distribution of food’’ during the ongoing lockdown.
According to reports, Nyanzi and the other protesters were arrested as they marched towards the home of the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to discuss why people were without food despite donations being made.
A petition from ‘’The Women’s Protest Working Group,’’ led by Nyanzi alleged that many poor Ugandans are yet to receive food relief packages from the government, causing them to go hungry
The group criticized the current process for food distribution, suggesting that the role be given to community leaders rather than military officials. “Many Ugandans have been excluded from the distribution of food relief by a hastily assembled military outfit,” Nyanzi is quoted as saying before her arrest. “Churches, mosques and other civil society institutions that have closer ties and networking within their communities were unfairly denied a chance to help their communities in the time of need and yet they would have been instrumental in mobilising and distributing food with clear guidelines.”
She further added: “We note that the anti-COVID measures have created an apartheid and occasioned avoidable suffering upon many vulnerable Ugandans especially women and low income earners who scrounge a livelihood in closed spaces, rental markets and other ordinary chores.”
However, a video capturing the scene shows Nyanzi being dragged away by police officers as she yells “my children are hungry I want food, I just want food.”
VIDEO: Police has arrested Dr Stella Nyanzi, events promoter Andrew Mukasa alias Bajjo and others for demonstrating over what they called “slow distribution” of government relief food to vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. #NTVNews | https://t.co/AgrIO3bWpF pic.twitter.com/atstP05z4J
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) May 18, 2020
