Opposition protest Besigye's detention

Uganda's opposition on Tuesday expressed outrage at the detention of leader Kizza Besigye, held in custody since a protest last week in which police shot dead one of his supporters.

"We are concerned about the detention without trial of Dr. Besigye and his colleagues," Harold Kaija, deputy secretary general of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), told AFP.

He complained that police had yet to announce "specific charges" against the party leader and two other officials detained with him.

Kaija on Monday visited Nagalama police station outside capital Kampala where the three have been held since their arrest on Thursday.

Senior FDC official Mugisha Muntu, a former army chief, said police are "bent on incarcerating them forever."

"This is a test of democracy," Muntu added.

Besigye was arrested following the killing of an opposition supporter during a protest in the western city of Rukungiri, Besigye's hometown.

The protesters were marching against a ruling party plan to amend the constitution to remove presidential age limits, a move that would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand for a sixth consecutive term in 2021.

Police on Wednesday had banned protests against the age limit bill.
Police spokesman Asan Kasingye said Besigye has "a case to answer" but did not specify charges.

"We are collecting evidence and he will be appearing in court in relation to the killing and holding of an illegal assembly," Kasingye said but was unable to give a date.