Police in Uganda allegedly surrounded and raided the opposition National Unity Platform’s (NUP) headquarters on Monday ahead of a planned march to parliament on Tuesday that aims to protest corruption under the present regime.

The NUP reported that the roads to the party’s headquarters had been blocked, and “several [party] leaders have been violently arrested.” The party did not organize the march to parliament, but the party supported and encouraged the public to participate.

The police issued a warning to organizers against commencing the march to parliament on July 15 due to the potential for “significant traffic congestion, disruption of trade, and disturbances to public order.” In that release, the police stated that they met with organizers on July 18 to discuss the “feasibility of a political procession” and added that “disorderly conduct will not be tolerated.”

Current President Yoweri Museveni decried the protests as “riots, illegal demonstrations, illegal and inconsiderate processions” and blamed the protests on opposition collusion with foreigners.

The NUP recently completed a “nationwide mobilization tour.” On July 15, the police allegedly blocked the NUP from accessing rally grounds and prevented the NUP from speaking on the radio in Bundibugyo. Rallies and speaking on the radio at other locations have been allowed to commence.

Elections in Uganda are regular, but “their credibility has deteriorated over time,” according to Freedom House, which rates Uganda as “not free.” The NUP claims that some of its candidates were abducted and tortured during and after the last general election in 2021. Freedom House reports that the ruling National Resistance Movement, which has governed since 1986, “retains power through patronage, intimidation, and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders.”

The US government and numerous international human rights organizations note that Ugandan activists and opposition leaders are consistently harassed and threatened for expressing anti-government views.