Ugandan opposition leader arrested, charged with murder

Police in Uganda have arrested opposition leader, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) after blaming him for the death of two protesters during Wednesday’s rally against plans by President Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule.

Besigye, who has contested and lost four elections against long-time leader Museveni was also charged with murder of the two protesters during Wednesday’s rally, in which officers fired bullets and teargas during clashes with government opponents.

“Besigye and his colleagues led these youths who stoned police and caused deaths,” police spokesman Denis Namuwoza told Reuters.

Wednesday’s clash in Rukungiri near the Rwandan border was one of several violent anti-Museveni protests that have spread across Uganda since the president last week for the first time openly expressed support for proposed legislation aimed at allowing him to stay in power.

A bill to let the 73-year-old president stand again in 2021 elections has angered opposition supporters as the police have reportedly broken up a series of protests in recent days.

The Ugandan constitution currently sets an age limit for candidates at 75 as Museveni hopes to still hang on to power even as rights organisations and activists have criticised moves by several other long-serving African rulers, notably in Rwanda, Burundi and Burkina Faso, to stay in power by extending term limits.

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