Ugandan police on Monday, arrested three semi-naked women in Kampala as they protested against corruption in the country.
The women are part of the “Uganda Freedom Activists,” a civil society group linked to youth-led anti-government protests earlier this year.
The protesters were marching towards parliament with anti-corruption slogans painted on their bodies, calling for action to “save the women, save the children, save the future, and end corruption.”
They also carried placards with messages such as “Uganda is not poor, they are stealing our wealth” and referenced the recent Kiteezi rubbish tip landslide in Kampala, which killed dozens, including children.
The women were arrested and taken to Kampala Central Police Station. Among the detainees was Praise Aloikin Opoloje, a law student who previously led Gen-Z protests in Uganda inspired by similar anti-government demonstrations in Kenya.
Their lawyer, Eron Kiiza, confirmed the arrests but said it was unclear what charges the women would face.
Corruption remains a significant issue in Uganda, with the country ranked 141 out of 180 on Transparency International’s corruption index.
The United States and Britain have imposed sanctions on several Ugandan officials, including Parliament Speaker Anita Among, over corruption allegations.
One of the arrested women had “Anita resign” written on her legs, continuing the long-standing call for Among to step down.
Eyewitnesses reported that the women, who were completely nude with their breasts painted in the colours of the Ugandan flag, were intercepted by security personnel near Uganda’s legislative assembly.
The protesters also demanded an audit of lawmakers’ earnings and greater accountability from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) following the Kiteezi dumpsite collapse last month, which claimed over 35 lives.