Two Ugandan youth were arrested on October 25th after they staged a peaceful protest outside the country’s U.S. Embassy in support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to Daily Monitor. Bigirwa Moses and Allan Kitonsa were among a group of five protesters affiliated with the Uganda Young Democrats – a youth wing of Uganda’s Democratic Party that is best known for its radicalism.
“Among the candidates for the presidency of America, he’s the only man who has said that once he becomes the president of America, he will fight the dictators, all African dictators, including Museveni,” explained Kizza Hakim, one of the protesters who managed to escape arrest.
The group held placards inscribed with messages supporting Trump in his quest to become the next president of the United States.
Tired of Dictators
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to the Daily Monitor, the young men caught the embassy’s security guards by surprise, prompting heated arguments as they demanded permission to campaign for Trump inside the building complex.
Security guards manning the premises were forced to call for reinforcement after the seemingly angry youth refused to budge.
“A vote for Trump is a vote against African dictatorship,” one of the placards read.
A clampdown by police forced the protesters and journalists who had gathered outside the embassy to scamper for safety.
U.S. Embassy officials refused to comment on the American presidential race or the pro-Trump protest.
Ugandan authorities called the incident embarrassing and warned that those arrested will be charged with unlawful assembly. which could carry a penalty of up to one year in prison under the country’s penal code.
Anti-Museveni Protests
Many say the protest was part of the ongoing anti-Museveni demonstrations that have been ongoing in Uganda since the disputed presidential election in February.
President Yoweri Museveni has been in power since January 1986 and has been re-elected multiple times, albeit controversially.
His government has been accused of dictatorial tendencies, with opposition leaders and their supporters bearing the brunt of his reign.
