Activists under their umbrella Women’s Protest Working Group, have Saturday matched in Kampala, in Protest against kidnappings and murder of children and women in the country.
Led by researcher Dr Stella Nyanzi, the activists clad in T-shirts with words showing solidarity to women like, “Women’s Lives Matter”, “We Want Security”, started marching at 10am from Centenary Park in Kampala and sounded songs calling on government intevention to stop the murders, but also, reminding kidnappers that women are human, who equally deserve to live freely.
While speaking to journalists during the protest, Dr Stella Nyanzi, applauded the Uganda Police Force, for granting them permission and protection during their protest.
“I want to celebrate Uganda Police, specifically, Kampala Metropolitan Police as well as the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola, because at the end of day they recognised that every Woman’s life matters,” Dr Nyanzi said.
According to Stella Nyanzi, the IGP had earlier blocked the demonstration and it took the intervention of Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odong, who convinced the Police Chief to overturn his decision.
The IGP had earlier written a letter on June 26, rejecting the demonstration, saying Police had addressed all their concerns and that during his address to the nation on security, the President clearly explained the measures to end the heartless acts.
However, unlike other demonstrations, today police officers have been seen protecting demonstrators and giving them way.
Police has already issued a statement crediting themselves for protecting the women Activists.
“Today Kampala Police ensured security as activists carried on with a peaceful procession by women in solidarity to put an end to women kidnaps and murders”, read a Facebook statement by Kampala Metropolitan Police.
On their next course of action, Dr Stella Nyanzi, said that they will petition the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga and other female legislators to echo their voices to stop the murders.
On her part, Godber Akullo, one of the members of the group, called upon all Ugandans to join hands and reign on the murder culprits and kidnappers.
“We are demanding security and am glad we have all come here for the same cause. But, we are not just demanding security from the Police, we are demanding it from the Ugandan society. What do you do when you hear that a woman is kidnapped or raped? Stop blaming victims of sexual assault and violence,” Akullo said.
When women are killed and kidnapped, it is not because they are dating too many men, not because they are walking alone at night, or because they are wearing short clothes. These acts against women are unacceptable and should be stopped,” she stressed.
Other people who joined the march include Mr Frank Gashumba of Sisimuka Uganda, journalists and members of the diplomat corps; French Ambassador Rivoal as well as the U.S. Ambassador, Malac.
Since the beginning of this year, Uganda has been grappling with several cases of kidnappings and murder of children and women.
On Feb 7, business woman Susan Magara was kidnapped by unknown people as she drove back to her Lungujja home. Her lifeless body would three weeks later be found by residents of Kigo in Wakiso district, along Entebbe Express highway.
Another remarkable case was that of the 22 year old Brinah Nalule, a former student of YMCA Buwambo campus, who was allegedly kidnapped from the old taxi park by people who pretended to be taxi operators on May 5.
The kidnappers would later use her phone to contact her parents demanding a ransom of Ugshs 10 million. She was later killed and her body dumped in Mutundwe, Kabawo zone at the farm of the area chairman in Rubaga Division.
