For weeks, unease has been building across several Ugandan towns, with residents whispering about rising intimidation and a shrinking space for expression.
Youth groups have grown increasingly cautious, gatherings disperse quickly and even everyday symbols are now treated as potential acts of defiance.
What once passed unnoticed is today viewed with suspicion, feeding a climate of fear and uncertainty. In the video, uniformed Ugandan soldiers are seen confronting a group of young men, beating and threatening them before forcing them to remove the national flag from a pole.
The incident, which witnesses say occurred in a residential area, has sparked outrage both inside and outside the country, with many accusing security forces of abusing power to crush dissent.
That tension spilled into the open after disturbing footage began circulating online, drawing widespread attention and condemnation.In recent months, the Ugandan flag has taken on a new and controversial meaning.
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Beyond its status as a national emblem, it has increasingly been adopted by supporters of opposition leader Bobi Wine as a sign of resistance against President Yoweri Museveni’s long standing rule.
Authorities, however, appear to view this symbolism as a political provocation rather than patriotic expression.
Rights activists argue that the violent response captured on video reflects a broader pattern of repression, particularly targeting young people seen as sympathetic to the opposition.
“The state is criminalising symbols because it fears what they represent,” said one Kampala based activist, warning that such actions only deepen public anger.
The incident has also renewed scrutiny of Uganda’s powerful military establishment, led by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni’s son.
Critics have frequently questioned his conduct and public statements, describing them as unpredictable and worrying for a professional army.
His dual role as the president’s heir apparent and military chief has long been a source of controversy.
Government officials have yet to issue a detailed response to the footage, but previous statements have insisted that security forces act to preserve order and national stability.
For many Ugandans, however, the images tell a different story one where even the national flag has become a battleground in the struggle over power, freedom, and the future of the country.
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