Representational image
Kampala:
Two Ugandan men who sneaked piglets into the east African nation's parliament to protest against corruption have been sent to prison awaiting trial, and the animals impounded as evidence, relatives said on Friday.
"At the court the magistrate read to them three charges of criminal trespass, conspiracy to sneak piglets into parliament and a third charge of interrupting parliament work," Richard Sebuliba, a relative of one of the men, told AFP.
Officials said the protestors had painted the piglets in the colours of the ruling party of President Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, and had written slogans insulting MPs as corrupt on the animals.
"They have been sent on remand," a police spokeswoman Polly Namaye confirmed.
The pair, Robert Mayanja and Norman Tumuhimbise, are members of a protest movement calling themselves the "jobless brotherhood group".
The piglets were taken into police custody, police spokesman, Fred Enanga told the AFP on Thursday.
But another member of the "jobless brotherhood", Jackson Tusingwire said the piglets had since been transferred from a police veterinary unit to a holding facility, as part of evidence to be used in court.
Eyewitnesses said the animals had been daubed with the word "MPigs".
The unemployed men were protesting at what they said was corruption and extravagant spending by lawmakers.
Uganda has been the subject of frequent criticism from foreign donors over allegations of rampant corruption, although protests in the country by Ugandans are rare.
Earlier this year MPs caused a storm after it emerged they had demanded a massive raise in their salaries, already 60 times higher than most state employees, and that the country's chief auditor had complained deputies had failed to account for millions of dollars of expenses.
Sebuliba, a relative of Mayanja, who was at the court in Kampala, said the family was "trying to ensure they are produced in court as soon as possible to secure their release."
The pair are next due in court on July 4 for a bail hearing.
"At the court the magistrate read to them three charges of criminal trespass, conspiracy to sneak piglets into parliament and a third charge of interrupting parliament work," Richard Sebuliba, a relative of one of the men, told AFP.
Officials said the protestors had painted the piglets in the colours of the ruling party of President Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, and had written slogans insulting MPs as corrupt on the animals.
"They have been sent on remand," a police spokeswoman Polly Namaye confirmed.
The pair, Robert Mayanja and Norman Tumuhimbise, are members of a protest movement calling themselves the "jobless brotherhood group".
The piglets were taken into police custody, police spokesman, Fred Enanga told the AFP on Thursday.
But another member of the "jobless brotherhood", Jackson Tusingwire said the piglets had since been transferred from a police veterinary unit to a holding facility, as part of evidence to be used in court.
Eyewitnesses said the animals had been daubed with the word "MPigs".
The unemployed men were protesting at what they said was corruption and extravagant spending by lawmakers.
Uganda has been the subject of frequent criticism from foreign donors over allegations of rampant corruption, although protests in the country by Ugandans are rare.
Earlier this year MPs caused a storm after it emerged they had demanded a massive raise in their salaries, already 60 times higher than most state employees, and that the country's chief auditor had complained deputies had failed to account for millions of dollars of expenses.
Sebuliba, a relative of Mayanja, who was at the court in Kampala, said the family was "trying to ensure they are produced in court as soon as possible to secure their release."
The pair are next due in court on July 4 for a bail hearing.
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