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Uganda police clash with opposition

12 May 2011 22:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Security forces in Uganda have clashed with supporters of opposition leader Kizza Besigye as they marched towards the capital Kampala for the presidential inauguration, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Security forces used teargas, water cannons and batons to disperse the protesters on Thursday, as President Yoweri Museveni was being sworn in for a fourth term, Reuters reported.

The demonstrators were welcoming back Besigye as he returned to Kampala. Thousands lined the streets as Besigye and his wife Winnie Byanyima drove home from the airport.

He had gone to Nairobi to receive medical treatment from injuries sustained after being brutally arrested by police during an opposition protest two weeks ago.

Since April, Besigye has lead opposition demonstrations against rising fuel and food costs, leading to his arrest four times. He has led "walk to work" protests to demonstrate against the rising prices and government corruption.

At least nine people have been shot and killed by government forces since the protests began, according to Human Rights Watch.

Meanwhile, Museveni has declared that he would stamp out any "disrupting schemes" made by the opposition during his inaugural ceremony. He has blamed the rising prices on drought and increasing global crude oil prices.

Museveni also announced a plan to buy fuel in bulk and that Uganda would be supplying domestic oil within three years.

Museveni has been in power for the past 25 years.

Besigye has contested the last elections, saying that both he and Museveni received less than 50 percent of the vote, requiring a run-off.