VisionAfrique Weekly - Uganda Protests: Rising Against Museveni's Reign

Earlier this year, I watched the Bobi Wine documentary with some friends, which gave me deeper insight into Uganda’s ongoing challenges. I highly recommend it—though it's a tough watch.

In light of recent protests in Uganda this week, I created a visualization that explores the environment of protests and the political climate under Museveni's leadership. I hope it helps to give some context to the current protests and the impact on civilians.

Context

Uganda has a long history of political violence and protests under the leadership of its long-standing leader, Yoweri Museveni. Museveni has been in power since 1986 and continues to hold onto power through staged elections, reinforcing his legitimacy on the international stage while terrorizing Ugandans with disappearances, torture, and killings. Thousands of civilians have been killed, often classified as the "opposition," and he shows no remorse for these actions. The climate of corruption in Museveni's government exacerbates the situation, with power concentrated in the hands of a few, and public resources mismanaged, further fueling public discontent and protest.

The Visual

The visualization depicts the number of reported political killings, including civilian fatalities, each year since 1997. It also shows the number of political demonstrations during the same period and highlights key events during Museveni's leadership that may explain increases in killings and/or protests.

Observations

• There is a significant increase in killings before and after Museveni's re-election in 2001.
• The number of demonstrations rises substantially after 2008, corresponding with another uptick in killings.
• Protests and riots increase significantly in 2015 as Museveni seeks a fifth term after 30 years in office.
• The removal of presidential age limits by Parliament in 2018, allowing Museveni to run again, sparks further protests.
• The entry of popular candidate Bobi Wine into the presidential race in 2019 leads to unprecedented levels of protests and riots, which subside after Museveni retains power in 2021.

Omissions

• It is challenging to determine the extent of killings directly attributable to Museveni and his government during the Ugandan civil war.
• The data starts in 1997, providing no insight into the period between Museveni's rise to power in 1986 and 1997.
• Another limitation could be the potential underreporting or lack of documentation of certain incidents of violence and protests.

The Data

The data is sourced from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) with key facts on the timeline from CNN.

Reflections

Museveni has shown Ugandans and the world the devastating impact of prolonged autocratic rule and rampant corruption. The fact that young people are protesting against corruption in Museveni's government this week, despite the risks and the violent history, demonstrates a desperate cry for change. Following recent events in Kenya, the courage of these protesters signifies a powerful demand for democratic reform. Museveni, it's time to listen to your people and step down. Let change happen.

Check out this week's visualization and article here.

About the author

Dara Gbolahan is a information designer that believes in the power of visualized data to create meaningful social impact. Through VisionAfrique, she regularly publishes data visualizations on Africa, aiming to inform and inspire enthusiasts of the continent.