Uganda arrests journalists over coverage of opposition protests

Police in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Monday arrested a string of journalists and later released them for covering opposition protests over the Feb. 18 presidential polls.

Some local and foreign journalists were arrested while others fled as they were covering opposition protesters who dropped piglets close to State House Nakasero, one of the official residencies of President Yoweri Museveni.

The journalists were held at Central Police Station Kampala and later released after recording statements.

Other journalists were arrested and later released when they covering events at the residence of opposition leader Kizza Besigye where police are heavily deployed to curtail his movement.

In the run-up to the presidential elections and after, some journalists have been roughed up by security agencies.

The opposition disputed the election results where Museveni was announced winner. The opposition called for mass protests saying the election was stolen by the ruling National Resistance Movement.

Security agencies on Sunday beefed up security in major towns across the country in anticipation of a mass opposition protest where people were to walk to State House.

Museveni has previously warned that those who intend to cause election violence would face the consequences of the law.

Besigye who came second in the elections has been in and out of police cells including house arrests over reports that he is planning to cause post-election violence. Endite