Africa News
Uganda's opposition leader arrested ahead of protests
Jan 19, 2012, 16:35 GMT
Johannesburg - Police in Uganda have arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye ahead of planned anti-government protests, members of his Forum For Democratic Change party said Thursday.
Police fired teargas outside his house, where a small group of supporters had gathered, before hauling away the opposition leader.
Several other prominent opposition figures were also detained prior to the rally, which was set to focus on corruption and the rising cost of living.
Besigye, a one-time advisor to President Yoweri Museveni, was arrested on several occasions last year as he led 'walk to work' protests against rising commodity prices.
He was once hospitalized in neighbouring Kenya after suffering injuries during a rally, when police clashed with his supporters.
The opposition has been staging demonstrations against Museveni's government since he was re-elected to the high office in February 2011. His opponents say the vote was rigged.
This month, traders in Kampala shut their shops for several days to protest against rising bank lending rates, saying they could not afford to stay in business.
The opposition says Museveni - who has been in power since 1986 - is following economic policies which are hampering business and causing the cost of fuel and basic foodstuffs to skyrocket, pushing many in the East African nation deeper into poverty.
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