Kizza Besigye held over Uganda ‘walk to work’ protest

Kizza Besigye was shot in the hand last week

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been arrested near his home after setting out to join a fresh protest against rising living costs.

He was also detained last week over the mass “walk-to-work” campaign and shot in the hand amid violent clashes between police and his supporters.

Several other opposition leaders have also been held over the protests planned for every Monday and Thursday.

At the weekend, the president described the plan as “idiotic” and illegal.

Dr Besigye lost to President Yoweri Museveni in February's election but says the poll was rigged.

He has been defeated by Mr Museveni in three presidential elections, gaining 26% to the president's 68% in February.

'Tear gas and gunshots'
Dr Besigye was detained as he set out on foot from his home in the capital, Kampala, to join the walk-to-work protest.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says plain-clothed security men picked him up off a dirt road near his house, keen to make sure he did not reach the main tarmac highway.

The Forum for Democratic Change leader was taken to the Kasangati police station on the outskirts of the capital.

The police station was surrounded by military officers and a small crowd of people, our correspondent says.

There are reports of violent retaliation as the police clash with groups of people who are throwing stones and disrupting transport, with tear gas and gunshots being heard in different parts of Kampala, he says.

Elsewhere in Kampala, Democratic Party leader Norbert Mao was arrested shortly after he left his house.

Uganda People's Congress party president, Olara Otunu, participating in the protest for the first time, has also been arrested.

Local radio stations are reporting that about five opposition MPs and other officials have been arrested.

Dr Besigye has pledged to hold protests twice weekly walk-to-work protests.

But at a press conference on Saturday, President Museveni warned against further demonstrations.

He insists his government cannot intervene to bring down to price of fuel and food commodities, because high food prices are good for farmers, our correspondent says.

“We made it clear to Besigye that you are not going to demonstrate or to walk,” he said, according to AFP news agency.

“If you want to walk, go somewhere and take a walk.”

Before February's election, Dr Besigye had called for Egypt-style uprisings in the event of fraud.

The police responded by banning public demonstrations.

Source: BBC