Ugandan Opposition Leader, Besigye Bundled Into Van Over Planned Protest

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been bundled into a van outside his home by police as his supporters planned a march to protest against the results of a presidential election. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leader had been under heavy police guard since he was placed under house arrest on Saturday, shortly before the election results were announced.

President Yoweri Museveni’s rule was extended into a fourth decade.  Besigye was earlier arrested on election day on Thursday as he tried to show journalists what he said was a vote-rigging operation in a suburban house. He was also arrested on a separate occasion during election week when he tried to hold a rally in the centre of the capital, Kampala.

Besigye had been expected to be released from house arrest on Monday, and had planned what his party said would be a peaceful march to the electoral commission to demand a transcript of last week’s results, which he has dismissed as fraudulent. Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, who followed the van, said Besigye has been taken to a police station.

Earlier on Monday, Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change party tweeted: “We are leaving Kasangati now to walk peacefully to @Uganda EC HQ. Join us on this peaceful walk to the UgandaEc.” The FDC has previously called on its supporters to reject the result.

Source: Al Jazeera