Uganda's Kizza Besigye put under house arrest

BBC News, 19 May 2011

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Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been put under house arrest, as the new parliamentary session is set to open.

Kizza Besigye used to be a close ally
of President Museveni

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says Dr Besigye left his house in a car and was stopped by a police roadblock.

He has been arrested four times in recent weeks during opposition protests at the rising cost of living.

Human rights groups have criticised the police crackdown on the protests, which left nine people dead.

The police officers said Dr Besigye was being put under preventive arrest, as they feared crimes would be committed if he left his house.

Dr Besigye, a former ally of Mr Museveni, sought medical treatment in Nairobi after being injured when he was arrested during the protests.

Dr Besigye says he was cheated in February's election, although he mustered only half as many votes as Mr Museveni. The government accuses him of trying to organise an Egypt-style uprising.

Last month, riots broke out in Kampala in protest at the rough treatment meted out to Dr Besigye by the security services during his arrest on 29 April.

Plain-clothed policemen beat up his supporters, smashed the window of his car and doused the inside with pepper spray and tear gas before manhandling him into a vehicle and driving off.

The authorities say Dr Besigye provoked them - and he was charged with inciting violence.

Mr Museveni came to power in 1986, following years of misrule under Milton Obote and Idi Amin.

He was initially praised as part of a new generation of African leaders determined to raise living standards and bring democracy to the continent.

But recently, donors have cut off some aid amid concern about his commitment to human rights.