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Opposition supporters on Kampala’s outskirts were dispersed with tear gas
Supporters of Uganda’s opposition leader have clashed with police in the capital Kampala following the swearing-in of President Yoweri Museveni.
The Ugandan government says Kizza Besigye’s supporters stoned convoys carrying dignitaries.
A spokesman said the Nigerian president’s car had come under attack.
The spokesman added that one of Dr Besigye’s supporters who came too near to a presidential convoy had been shot dead.
The government said it was part of a deliberate effort by Dr Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change party to undermine the government.
Mr Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, was sworn in for a fourth term as president as thousands of opposition supporters turned out to welcome Dr Besigye home from neighbouring Kenya.
Analysis
This is surely the Ugandan government’s worst nightmare. On the very day that President Yoweri Museveni is sworn into office, Dr Kizza Besigye jets in and receives a hero’s welcome from thousands of his supporters waving tree branches. As one tweeter put it: “Raining on your parade doesn’t get any worse than this.”
The visiting dignitaries may have come to give a pat on the back for the president, but some will have seen first-hand the enthusiastic support that Dr Besigye has – especially in Kampala.
The government accuses Dr Besigye of being a bad loser who is determined to cause chaos in order to boost his political profile. And there are plenty of Ugandans who would agree.
But there is no denying the opposition leader has endured extraordinary amounts of oppression, from trumped-up court cases ahead of the 2006 election to the recent brutal treatment at the hands of the police; each time he bounces back.
Yoweri Museveni won the election in February, but the government will reconsider the wisdom of backing his idea of dealing with the opposition with military might. So far, it has done nothing but boost Dr Besigye and hurt Mr Museveni.
Government spokesman Fred Opolot said the police had urged Dr Besigye to speed up his journey from Entebbe airport to the capital, Kampala, but he had defied them.
Dr Besigye and his wife, waving to the crowds from an open-top car, spent six hours driving the 40km (25 miles) from Entebbe airport to Kampala through crowds of cheering supporters.
As the supporters approached the city centre, six hours after setting off, military police began shooting in the air to disperse the crowds and tear gas was fired.
“The Nigerian president’s car – stones were directed towards it; fortunately they were able to speed away,” Mr Opolot told the BBC’s Focus on Africa.
“Dr Besigye and his crowd were determined to embarrass President Museveni on his swearing-in day.
“Had the police taken action against the crowd, and particularly against Kizza Besigye, the police would have been condemned by the wider public, so it’s a catch-22 situation.
“It is embarrassing for us, it’s an image that we do not want the world to see of Uganda – what has happened is unfortunate and we really do apologise.”
‘Excessive force’
Dr Besigye, a former ally of Mr Museveni, sought medical treatment in Nairobi after being injured when he was arrested over anti-government protests.
The police have been accused of using excessive force to break up opposition protests in recent weeks, leading to at least nine deaths, according to Human Rights Watch.
Museveni’s Uganda
- Helped oust Idi Amin in 1979, seized power in 1986
- Overseen economic boom
- Reduced HIV infection rate
- Sent troops to fight Islamists in Somalia
- Sent troops to DR Congo
- Had criticised African leaders who stay in power too long
- Opposition complains of harassment and vote-rigging
- Donors cutting aid over human rights concerns
- Set to stay in power for 30 years
Dr Besigye had been due to return from Kenya on Wednesday, but says he was prevented from doing so – this was denied by Uganda’s authorities.
Mr Museveni took the oath of office at a ceremony at an airstrip in central Kampala, in front of thousands of supporters and the leaders of African countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The ceremony was followed by a 21-gun salute.
The president boasted of his achievements and vowed to “defeat disrupting schemes” – seen as a reference to the opposition.
Dr Besigye says he was cheated in February’s election, although he mustered only half as many votes as Mr Museveni.
The opposition has since been involved in “walk-to-work” protests over the rises in the cost of food and fuel.
The government accuses Dr Besigye of trying to organise an Egypt-style uprising. He has been arrested four times.
Mr Museveni was once seen as part of a new generation of African leaders, replacing the post-independence “Big Men”.
But the treatment of Dr Besigye means Mr Museveni’s commitment to democracy has now been questioned and some aid to Uganda has been cut.
Taken from:
Clashes as Uganda leader sworn in