Four Rooted in Resistance Youths Remanded over anti-oil march to parliament

KAMPALA – The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday remanded four members of the youth climate justice movement Rooted in Resistance to Luzira Prison until September 4, 2026, on charges of public nuisance.

The accused – Aniwallh Ssembalirwa, Hassan Mugoya, Aron Patrick Ariong and Ivan Okanya – were arrested on August 10, 2026, while marching to Parliament to submit a petition concerning Uganda’s oil sector.

Court records show that the four were part of a peaceful procession heading to the Parliamentary building to deliver concerns over environmental justice, compensation for project-affected persons, and transparency in Uganda’s oil developments. They were intercepted by security along Parliament Avenue, arrested and held at Central Police Station before being charged.

On Friday, the four appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate where the State formally charged them with public nuisance contrary to Section 148 of the Penal Code Act. Prosecution said inquiries were still ongoing and asked the court to remand them.

Their lawyer, Peter Arinaitwe, protested the continued detention, arguing that his clients were exercising their constitutional rights under Article 38 to peacefully participate and petition Parliament. He called for a fair and expeditious hearing, noting that the right to petition a public institution cannot be criminalized.

Arinaitwe further told the court that the youths had no criminal record and that their action was non-violent and of public interest.

Members of Rooted in Resistance who attended the court session condemned the remand, describing it as an attempt to silence critical youth voices on the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and other oil projects.

The organization has demanded their immediate release and asked Parliament’s leadership to receive the petition they had intended to deliver.

The case will return on September 4, 2026 for mention and possible bail application.