The ‘March to Parliament’ Protesters have come out to demand a fair distribution of funds raised on their behalf by Authaire Agather, Agora Discourse, and an online financial drive called ‘Go Fund Me’ led by Dr. Jacob Otile, a Ugandan doctor and human rights activist.
According to Bosco Walugembe, a bar attendant at Obama Bar and Restaurant in Makindye division, about four protesters, joined by their friends and family members, to have some drinks at the bar on the night of July 30, 2024, expressed their frustration over the manner in which they were taken advantage of by the people they thought were fighting corruption, yet were just money-minded.
“These protesters expressed lack of communication, transparency, and accountability regarding the financial contributions collected by various organizations and individuals on their behalf before, during, and after protests and vowed to get every penny acquired on their behalf,” Walugembe said.
He further said that one protester told his colleagues how it is their right to demand and know how much was collected in total and how much is left so that it is shared among all the people who were arrested.
“They demanded to know where the money is going and how it is being used; they added that these funds were collected before and during the protests, since they were assured of legal representation after protests should they be arrested and all medical bills catered for in case the need arose,” Walugembe added.
A reliable source revealed to this website that the protesters are not happy, especially with Dr. Otile, who received money in dollars on the Go Fund Me drive and only declared small amounts donated and kept the bigger potion as they knew some of the sources of the money, whereas others are not happy with Agather too, whom they allege stays behind the computer and incites youths and cashes in on their plight.
“This woman, Agather, is a real street dealer; the majority see her as a human activist fighting for their rights; however, on the day of the protests, they expected her to be in the lead since she is the person who claims to have evidence and has always paraded it on social media, but instead she was busy organizing how to collect funds from people on social media during and after the protests,” said the source.
According to Walugembe, the protesters believe that their demands are rooted in the belief that, as the most affected members, they should have a direct influence on the financial decisions affecting their lives. They called for a clear accounting of the funds and a plan for equitable distribution for every protester, especially those who were arrested.