A leading Ugandan opposition figure, Kiza Besigye, was arrested and charged with murder on Thursday, police said on Friday.
Kizza Besigye, who has contested and lost four presidential elections against long-time leader Yoweri Museveni, was detained after a deadly anti-government rally that security personnel broke up with teargas and bullets, Reuters reports.
According to the police spokesman, Denis Namuwoza, Besigye and two other senior officials were arrest as they travelled to the town of Kabale near the border with Rwanda.
In Wednesday’s rally, two people died as police fought running battles with government opponents who were assembling to denounce a legislative plan to extend Museveni’s rule, the report said.
“Besigye and his colleagues led these youths who stoned police and caused deaths,” Namuwoza told Reuters.
Recently lawmakers from Uganda’s ruling party voted to introduce a bill to abolish presidential age limitations.
When passed by parliament, the changes will let President Yoweri Museveni, 73, extend his grip on power.
The current constitution caps the age of presidential candidates at 75.
Museveni is backing proposed legislation to remove that age ceiling.
