- Title: Uganda opposition leader arrested ahead of president's swearing-in
- Date: 11th May 2016
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (MAY 11, 2016) (REUTERS) SECURITY DEPLOYED IN STREETS OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS PROTESTING POLICE TOWING BESIGYE'S CAR, WITH HIM AT THE STEERING WHEEL MILITARY POLICE DISPERSING OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS
- Embargoed: 26th May 2016 17:34
- Keywords: Uganda opposition sweraing in arrest Yoweri Museveni
- Location: KAMPALA, UGANDA
- City: KAMPALA, UGANDA
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0024HD82MF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested on Wednesday (May 11) after he took oath of office as an alternative government a day before President Yoweri Museveni's swearing in.
Besigye was accompanied by his party officials and supporters as he took the oath.
"I shall preserve, protect and defend the constitution of Uganda, so help me God," Besigye said as he swore himself to office.
Museveni, a former guerrilla who seized power in 1986, was declared winner of Uganda's February 18 election with 60 percent of the vote, allowing him to extend his reign to 35 years.
Besigye, his main challenger, got 35 percent of the vote. He rejected the results and said the election was a sham, citing intimidation by security forces and impartiality of the electoral body.
"Mr. Museveni who intends to cling onto what Mr. Kiggundu announced -- that is unattainable from the available evidence," Besigye said. He was referring to Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu.
After the swearing-in, Besigye drove to downtown Kampala and waved at supporters from his car. Police then arrested him, for addressing an illegal assembly, and towed his car away with him inside it.
NTV-Uganda showed pictures of a crowd running saying police tried to disperse supporters with tear gas before Besigye's arrest.
Besigye's party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) says their candidate won the election.
The FDC leader has been arrested several times before, during and after elections held early this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None