Ottawa, Canada—Uganda’s High Commissioner to Canada, Joy Ruth Acheng, is facing significant backlash after an incident during a peaceful protest by the Ugandan diaspora in Ottawa. The protest aimed to spotlight corruption and human rights violations in Uganda, but it quickly became controversial due to Acheng’s alleged conduct.

During the demonstration, Acheng, instead of addressing the concerns of the protesters diplomatically, reportedly threatened to involve the Ottawa Police Service, sparking outrage both on the ground and online. Eyewitnesses claim that Acheng’s behavior was more reminiscent of a “street thug” than a diplomat, as she accused Uganda’s opposition of kidnapping and murdering citizens to tarnish the government’s reputation. Her remarks, seen by many as inflammatory and unbefitting of her diplomatic status, have drawn widespread criticism.

The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media platforms, including X, where the UK chapter of the People Power—National Unity Platform (NUP) posted the footage. The post, which accused Acheng of acting contrary to the values of diplomatic engagement, has fueled calls for action from Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mélanie Joly. Critics are urging the Canadian government to expel Acheng, citing her actions as a blatant abuse of diplomatic immunity and a threat to the freedoms of expression and assembly, which are enshrined in the Canadian Constitution.

“Canada is not Uganda, where intimidation, violence, and arbitrary arrests are used to silence dissent,” the NUP’s UK chapter stated in their viral post. They further highlighted that such actions contradict the United Nations Charter and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which Uganda is a signatory.

The incident has cast a shadow over Uganda’s diplomatic relations with Canada, raising questions about the conduct of its representatives abroad. Observers are now keenly watching how Global Affairs Canada and Minister Joly will respond to this diplomatic challenge. The Ugandan community, human rights advocates, and the international community are all waiting to see if Acheng will be held accountable, or if the incident will be swept under the rug under the guise of diplomatic immunity.

This controversy also brings into sharp focus the broader issues of governance and human rights in Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni’s regime has been repeatedly accused of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress opposition and maintain power. The protest in Ottawa is just one example of the growing global efforts by the Ugandan diaspora to bring attention to these pressing issues.