Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni yesterday warned he would not allow protests against food and fuel price rises led by opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Museveni blamed drought in the east African country for the rising food prices and said international events had pushed up the price of oil.
There will be no demonstrations in Kampala ... if Besigye wants to walk for exercise let him do it somewhere else, Museveni told a media conference at his rural home southwest of the capital.
If Besigye demonstrates, will it bring international oil prices down because he has demonstrated? Will it rain because Besigye has demonstrated? said Museveni in his first public reaction to the protests.
Prices have been rising after drought cut food output across Uganda, while higher global oil prices have increased transport costs, pushing up food prices further in urban areas. The consumer price index jumped 4.1% in March from February, pushing the year-on-year inflation rate to 11.1%, the fifth straight rise.
Security forces on Thursday fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a crowd of more than 1,000 led by Besigye, Musevenis closest rival in February elections.
Besigye said he was injured in the march to the centre of Kampala after a rubber bullet struck his finger.
Protests were also reported in the second busiest commercial town of Jinja in eastern Uganda, Masaka in south western Uganda, and Gulu to the north, epicentre of a now fizzled-out two-decade rebellion.
Many Ugandans complain of worsening poverty, but others respect Museveni for bringing stability to a country once plagued by brutal despots such as Idi Amin. (Gulf Times)