IN UGANDA, EVERY PROTEST IS AIMED AT MEETING THE PRESIDENT

Many have called Mr. Museveni Kaguta "The Alpha and Omega" of both problems and solutions to Uganda's political and social challenges. I don't know whether to say power has consumed him in the forty years he has ruled Uganda or He has consumed power for forty years. We can claim he understands Uganda and Ugandans in that he has created his own political, and leadership philosophy. Other than being a Machiavellian who wins by all means with little adherence to moral or ethical standards. Mr. Museveni also understands International Relations as far as where the pool of money flows from.

Since becoming president of Uganda, Mr. Museveni has manipulated his way to the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. This has enabled him to have control over all three arms of government to propel his stay in power for 40 years and dance with the Constitution in the
way he pleases like a teenager celebrating the freedom that comes with joining campus.

Let's now look at the History of Social, Political, and economic demonstrations in Uganda under the leadership of Mr. Museveni Kaguta Yoweri after the 1996 general elections. Allow me to drop to your ears the degeneration of true leadership after the 1996 elections. The general election came exactly Eleven years after he illegally attained power. 

The 1996 General elections came after he thought he had leveled the grounds to be elected genuinely, especially by the elites. When he came to power the President concentrated on three economic reforms to help propel the already staggering economy he inherited. The legalization of the parallel foreign exchange market, liberalization of coffee marketing, and the establishment of fiscal discipline. This brought macroeconomic stability. Together with trade liberalization and privatization which was by the way forced on him by the IMF and World Bank as a condition for Uganda to access easy loans, Mr. Museveni had set Uganda on the road to a liberal and capitalist economy. "What more would the elite want?" He must have asked himself that question.

He forgot that the people who helped empower themselves with the new economic policies were his cronies. The people, relatives, and friends of those he fought with in the bush were the ones taking advantage of the new financial and economic policies, not the entire elite society. Of course, the silent tribal divide slowly took shape in his government. When he realized all he felt he had done for Uganda including sacrificing his peace and the life of his friends Ugandans still were pushy to get him out and replace him with Dr. Kawanga Ssemogerere Paul the DP president who served in his government as Minister of Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs. And from 1994 - 1995, Dr. Kawanga Ssemogerere Paul served in two ministerial positions that are, Public Service and Deputy prime minister before resigning to face his boss on the ballots. 

That was the time Mr. Museveni deployed his Plan "B", that "by all means necessary and unnecessary", he must remain president and serve Uganda provided he still can breathe. The birth of election "malpractice" to be less harsh on the act of stealing votes. With all the love and support he gained throughout the three months of the presidential campaign, Dr.Kawanga Ssemogerere Paul lost the 1996 presidential elections.

The privatization, and liberation of Uganda's economy, brought in investors who were willing to flash their monies into our economy in Agriculture, manufacturing, and the service industry. The well-connected individuals utilized this change as an opportunity to "make money", which meant the economy was built and maintained in the hands of a few organized friends and relatives of the "Liberators". As time went on, NGOs flocked to various parts of Uganda to support Uganda's economy. Donations, grants, and Loans became Uganda's source of income. URA struggled to collect Taxes from Businesses. These national sources of income gave birth to two fundamental economic activities in Uganda. Corruption and Deals. These two have then changed the image and identity of Uganda. I am not going to give attention to these two acquired identities today but in my next article. The above has been a buildup to the title of this article "In Uganda, every protest is aimed at meeting the president."

Let us look at all the recent and notable demonstrations, strikes, and calls to action organized in Uganda by politicians, CSOs, and professional associations. 

The Teachers’ Strike of 2019

In 2019, Uganda's teachers, represented by the Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU), went on strike to protest low pay and poor working conditions. The strike paralyzed schools nationwide, forcing the government to intervene.

After weeks of stalemate and growing unrest, President Museveni held meetings with UNATU leadership to address their concerns. The President agreed to gradually increase teachers' salaries and improve working conditions, although the teachers argued that the promised increments were still insufficient. These negotiations helped to calm tensions for the time being, although the issue of teacher pay remains contentious.

Taxi Drivers and Bodaboda Riders’ Protests 2020

Taxi drivers and bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) riders, who make up a significant portion of Uganda's informal economy, protested several times due to heavy regulations, high taxes, and restrictions related to the COVID-19 lockdown. Their industry was severely impacted, and many drivers struggled to make a living.

After multiple demonstrations and appeals to local leaders, some taxi drivers and bodaboda riders were invited to meet President Museveni. In these meetings, Museveni promised economic relief measures, including reduced taxes and support packages to ease their burden during the pandemic. While the meetings alleviated some immediate concerns, long-term solutions remained elusive for many in the informal sector.

Social Media and Mobile Money Tax Protests 2018 

In 2018, the introduction of a controversial social media tax and mobile money tax sparked nationwide protests. Ugandans, especially the youth, were outraged by the government’s decision to tax social media usage, seeing it as a restriction on freedom of speech and a financial burden on already strained incomes.

The widespread backlash led to some government officials, including President Museveni, addressing the issue. While the President defended the tax as necessary for national development, he agreed to meet some representatives of the protesting groups to hear their grievances. The meeting did not result in the repeal of the taxes, but some adjustments were made to the rates, particularly the mobile money tax, which was reduced from 1% to 0.5% on withdrawals.

National Association of Nurses and Midwives Strike (2021)

In May 2021, nurses and midwives went on strike, demanding better pay, improved working conditions, and access to protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike caused significant disruptions in the health sector, particularly in rural areas where healthcare infrastructure is already limited. 

President Museveni intervened by holding meetings with leaders of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives to discuss their demands. Although no immediate salary increments were offered, the government pledged to review their working conditions and expedite ongoing plans to improve healthcare worker compensation. The strike was called off after these discussions, though it remained a short-term fix to a longstanding problem.

KACITA Strike 2024

One of the most significant strikes occurred in April when thousands of traders from Kampala and other regions shut down their shops in protest against the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS). Traders argued that EFRIS, meant to enhance tax collection and reduce evasion, was poorly implemented and disproportionately harmed small businesses.

The protests were so widespread that traders in cities like Jinja and Masaka joined in, despite government appeals to reopen. As a result, President Museveni met with leaders of major trader associations, including the Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA) and the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), on April 19, 2024, to address their concerns. Museveni agreed to temporarily halt penalties related to EFRIS and promised to review the system while continuing consultations.

This meeting marked a tentative victory for the traders, with further discussions scheduled for May 2024. In response, traders reopened their businesses while awaiting long-term resolutions on issues such as unfair taxation, high import duties, and the treatment of foreign investors in Uganda’s market.

These strikes illustrate the growing unrest among Uganda’s business community, particularly around tax policy, and their increasing pressure on the government to create fairer economic conditions. Museveni’s engagement with these groups highlights the significance of the protests and the power of organized civic action in influencing policy decisions.

Throughout his presidency, Amos' son has often responded to large-scale protests and demonstrations by holding meetings with representatives of aggrieved groups. While demonstrations and strikes are supposed to help resolve issues affecting society, the leaders of such demonstrations use them as revenue to build financial relations between them and the president. At the end of the day, the cycle continues. The problem was exposed but swallowed by the leaders.  unrest.