Ugandan Opposition Leader under House Arrest

Local Editor

Uganda's security forces Saturday put the main opposition candidate under house arrest to prevent him from leading protests as the country awaited the results of a disputed election whose final tally is expected later Saturday.

Spokesman Fred Enanga told media that police took "preventive measures" against Kizza Besigye to stem further unrest.

Earlier on Thursday, the elections were marred by late delivery of polling materials, sporadic violence and a government shutdown of social media. Partial results from about 75 percent of the vote show long-time President Yoweri Museveni leading with over 60 percent against Besigye's 35 percent.

Later the other day, Police surrounded the headquarters of Besigye's party, the Forum for Democratic Change, as he met with party members, and a helicopter fired tear gas at a crowd outside. Police then moved in and took Besigye, a 59-year-old doctor, to an unknown location. He was later taken to his house overnight.

After Friday's arrest, Besigye's supporters took to the streets. Riot police lobbed tear gas and stun grenades at them and fired warning shots from automatic rifles, then chased them through narrow alleys, arresting some.

His party further alleged massive vote rigging, and accused the government of deliberately stalling voting in areas seen as opposition strongholds and orchestrating violence.

"We have to contain the situation," Enanga further stated. "We have reasonable cause to prevent him from promoting actions of violence."

In parallel, the Ugandan police prevented journalists from accessing Besigye's home on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team