Ugandan police disperse protests as tension escalates

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Ugandan police fired tear gas to disperse a demonstration in the capital Kampala, and soldiers closed off parts of the city for several hours on Monday.

Demonstrators set up bonfires and barricades on the second day of protests on Kampala streets, and police and soldiers tried to remove the roadblocks, local television pictures showed.

Gunfire rang out sporadically in parts of the city, and supporters cheered their encouragement from shopping arcade balconies, according to local witnesses.

Politician Robert Kyagulanyi (C), better known as Bobi Wine, joins a demonstration in Kampala to protest tax on the use of social media, July 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Tension has been running high in Uganda since the detention of five lawmakers critical of President Yoweri Museveni.

Heavily-armed police in anti-riot gear and soldiers took control of the streets around the bustling Kireka market. Armored personnel carriers were positioned at key intersections as security forces ordered members of the public to evacuate city blocks. Military units were deployed as unrest escalated.

A total of 68 suspects had been arrested during two days of disturbances, police spokesman Emilian Kayima said.

The lawmakers, including popstar-turned-politician Bobi Wine, were arrested on August 13 on suspicion of taking part in the stoning of a presidential convoy during a parliamentary by-election campaign in which car windows were smashed.

Two of the lawmakers were badly beaten while being detained, according to a lawyer for one of them. The government yet denies security personnel deliberately beat anyone.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters