Tear gas, scuffles as Ugandan presidential challenger is arrested

Ugandan police fired tear gas on Monday to disperse opposition supporters as they briefly detained a top presidential challenger, Kizza Besigye, days ahead of presidential polls. Besigye, a three-time failed presidential candidate who heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, was held after “chaotic scenes” as he campaigned in the capital Kampala ahead of […]

Ugandan police fired tear gas on Monday to disperse opposition supporters as they briefly detained a top presidential challenger, Kizza Besigye, days ahead of presidential polls.
Besigye, a three-time failed presidential candidate who heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, was held after “chaotic scenes” as he campaigned in the capital Kampala ahead of Thursday’s election.
Besigye was driven to a police station, before being taken home by police, with police spokesman Patrick Onyanyo stressing he was “not under any form of arrest.”
Minister for the Presidency Frank Tumwebaze however said it was “madness” that Besigye had tried to hold a rally in the centre of the capital, saying the police had a duty to ensure calm.