Uganda Opposition Outrage over Arrests

Ugandan police held two key opposition leaders for a second day Wednesday after furious protests against an alleged ruling party ploy to oust the mayor of Kampala, police and opposition members said.

The capital's mayor Erias Lukwago and opposition leader Kizza Besigye were arrested Tuesday during protests ahead of a council vote expected this week on Lukwago's suspension for abuse of office.

"They are held for inciting violence," Uganda police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba said, adding that further charges might also be added.

Opposition supporters claim the mayor is a victim of political maneuvering by the ruling party and his expected sacking is on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni.

"They will vote for the impeachment, the council is corrupt," said Ingrid Turinawe, a senior politician from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Police said both are being held in a Kampala cell, but Turinawe complained they had not been given access.

"The police are not giving us any information on their whereabouts," she said. "They are denying them their rights and preventing them from seeing relatives."

Lukwago, a member of the opposition Democratic Party, was also arrested on Monday and then released, before being detained again on Tuesday.

The mayor's supporters have vowed to continue protests, but said that exact starting locations and timings would be kept secret until the last minute to avoid police crackdowns.

Ugandan police regularly crack down on demonstrations against the cost of living and Museveni's 27-year-old grip on power.

Besigye, a three-time presidential election challenger and former FDC leader, has been repeatedly detained in such protests. He is usually released without charges after a few hours.