President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has announced his government’s plan to compensate victims of November 18 and 19 Free Bobi Wine protests but killed protesters’ families won’t be considered.
In his November 29 address live from Mbale, Museveni said described the riots as “senseless” and sent his sympathies to families which had lost their loved ones in the protests.
“Unfortunately, 54 people died in this confusion, 32 of them were rioters according to the report I got. Some were hit by stray bullets, some were knocked,” the president noted in his first comprehensive address on the matter.
“I send condolences to Ugandans that lost their relatives in these senseless riots.”
The protests broke out after the arrest of Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) in Luuka District for flouting Covid19 prevention guidelines.
Police would later release Bobi Wine on bail, but cautioned him to refrain from holding campaign meetings of more than 200 people as recommended by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
After announcing his government would compensate families of victims as well as those who are still nursing wounds from the protests, Museveni made it clear families of the 32 protesters who were shot in confrontation with police and other security agencies would not be compensated.
“The government will compensate those who lost their lives and properties, but we shall not compensate those who died and were rioters, no way,” said Museveni.
The president also used his address to warn Ugandans against protests aimed at removing government, saying security agencies had enough capacity to deal with riots.
He further told Bobi Wine’s supporters the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate was not above the law, adding that his arrest should never again spark off protests.
He equally assured Ugandans “the overall security posture of Uganda is robust and that is where people (like these rioters) make miscalculations; you will be defeated.”
