Nyanzi arrested over arcade closure protest

Jul 08, 2020

She was arrested while addressing a joint press conference with arcade traders under their umbrella body, Kampala Arcade and Traders’ Association (KATA) led by its chairperson, Godfrey Katongole.

KAMPALA - The Police this morning raided Biraj International hotel, located near Nakasero market and arrested activist Dr Stella Nyanzi, for protesting against the closure of arcades.

She was arrested while addressing a joint press conference with arcade traders under their umbrella body, Kampala Arcade and Traders' Association (KATA) led by its chairperson, Godfrey Katongole.

Nyanzi being arrested for protesting against the closure of arcades. (Photo by Stuart Yiga)


According to Police, Nyanzi and her colleagues did not seek permission to convene the conference.


Traders allege that when they met the president recently, he promised to meet them again after a period of one week but it's almost coming to a month without getting any feedback from government on when the arcades will resume operation officially.

Police officers dragging Nyanzi out of Biraj international hotel. (Photo by Stuart Yiga)


Katongole said they have given the government up to Tuesday, next week, to ensure that all arcades are opened.

Police officers dragging Nyanzi. (Photo by Staurt Yiga)


"We are not politicians, our issue is strictly business-related, we want arcades opened so that traders can survive," said Katongole.

Katongole and Nyanzi addressing a joint press conference before the arrest. (Photo by Stuart Yiga)


Nyanzi said many traders are sleeping on empty stomachs due to the continued closure of arcades majority of whom are single mothers and widows.

Ply cards with messages asking President Museveni to open arcades. (Photo by Stuart Yiga)


 "Government should understand that a big number of traders have started going back to their respective villages as a result of frustration because they have spent whatever they had saved," she said.


 Nyanzi, Katongole and Abib Buwembo, of the Forum for Democratic Change, among others are currently being held at Kampala Central Police Station.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});