IUSY

The Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) and the entire Opposition at large decided to demonstrate against the Economic injustices prevailing in Uganda, This capmaign started on the 11th April 2011.

We decided that we neither drive nor board any motorvehicles on Mondays and Thursdays but walk to work, all in solidarity with the majority Ugandans who can no longer afford food and all basic needs. In a campaign we termed " WALK TO WORK" which is a campaign for a fair society.

We undertook this as a peaceful way of calling upon our Government to listen to the plight of the poor majority and not the wealthy few.The Government now says we need its permission to walk !! Which permission can never be granted by this oppressive regime.

Our peaceful demonstrations have instead since been opposed and dispersed with immense cruelty from Government and its armed forces.

We condemns the brutality of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government against the Ugandan people whose only crime is to ask for answers to the many questions characterizing their daily life.

These problems include the unexplainable increase in the cost of living while those in power are swimming in luxury and unprecedented waste; Between the last general elections in 2006 and the recent one in February 2011 consumer prices for most essential commodities have doubled yet majority Ugandans remain unemployed and under employed and many can not afford even a dollar per day !! For Example; Fuel which determines most commodity prices is rising fast coupled with high government taxes on it from UG SHS 2500 at the highest in (2006) to UG SHS 3500 (2011), the government has neglected to subsidize such crucial determinants of the cost and quality of life. The Government has a choice of decreasing on the high taxes for necessaries in life.

These are some of the issues puzzling the common man in this country daily and the government which everybody expected to offer answers and solutions is instead bent on criminalizing genuine desire for explanation and expression.

As the people search for these answers, the Government has resorted to killing, imprisoning, injuring and doing all grave violations of Human Rights against Ugandans of all walks of life who dare to stand up for their rights and the rights of other people.

Several Ugandans have died in the violent crack down of these peaceful protests.

On the 21st April a child of 4 years died in Masaka District after the police fired live bullets at demonstrators, two bullets of which ripped through his head and ribs many other Ugandans have died at the hands of the regime's in similar use of unnecessary force on innocent civilians.

Currently two former Presidential candidates in the recently concluded Presidential campaigns Hon. Nobert Mao (DP) and Mr. Kiiza Besigye(FDC) , together with many others six of whom are UYD leaders were imprisoned because of expressing themselves against the prevailing social and Economic injustices.These and many civilians are languishing in these prisons which lack even the most basic facilities.

The "Walk to Work" campaign is for a purpose – to improve the lives of the people in this country – however this purpose is yet to be achieved meaning that the agitation will continue and more arrests, killings and detentions will continue as the regime continues to intimidate Ugandans into submission yet Ugandans have no choice but to agitate for their rights in all possible ways.

We call upon all our friends and partners to keenly condemn the unfolding turn of events including the killings, arrests and detentions of Ugandans now fighting for social justice.

We note with consternation the fact that the Uganda police force is today filled up with the military, whose only job is to carry out work of the National Resistance Movement party which came to power through a millitary coup and still finds it confortable to rule through oppression despite the new constitutional order which it often abuses through massive rigging of elections with impunity.

"THE STRUGGLE IS OUR LIFE "

Uganda Young Democrats (UYD)