As a follow up on last year’s demonstrations, Ugandans living in the United States under the umbrella of the Ugandans in Diaspora International, Inc. (UDII) are determined to continue with their advocacy strategy and for this year their goal is reaching out to the United States Congress for support. The first of the kind was the 1/22/10 Washington DC demonstration that brought together large numbers of Ugandan living in DC and the neighboring states. The demonstration started from the Ugandan Embassy where they handed a document to the Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Charles Ssentongo which detailed the demands and concerns of the diaspora voice on behalf of Ugandans as a whole; “We are not ready to see our country face another five years of human rights violations, corruption and poverty….. I think it is the time that the international community should use to take a close look on the demands of and give them a hand however little their interest might be in Uganda” Mr. Wycliffe Lule Musoke a Ugandan senior citizen and a member of the UDII said.
The demonstration later headed to the White House, IMF and World Bank where the same document was passed on to the officials. Another satellite demonstration is to take place on 1/23/10 in Boston MA which will be followed by the last one in NY 0n the 1/26/10 where UDII members are expected to meet with UN officials to present their case. “ It is our role as Ugandans in the Diaspora to spear head the liberation of our people in Uganda, we are already planning to have more meetings with the Congress in a dual effort in finding the best way we can halt Mr. Museveni’s quest for presidency come 2011” Deo Kawunde .
However, when it came to general human rights violation, the demonstrators also expressed their disappointment in the general international community. With huge posters displaying civilians being beaten up and killed by Museveni’s brutal military men, the demonstrators said that it was very surprising that the international community came in after the Anti Homosexual Bill yet as Uganda is heading towards the 2011 elections many human rights have been violated for example the recent arrest of 35 women that peacefully marched to the electoral commission in demand for the resignation of the current Electoral commission chairman, closure of media houses among others which they believe should also capture international community attention. “The future of our Nation is going to depend on the international community’s intervention in Uganda in case we are to lead a very peaceful next five years”. Pr. Peter Mugisha.
