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Uganda charges dozens over riots | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Dozens of Ugandans arrested during last week's riots over the controversial visit of a traditional king have appeared in court. | |
They were charged with various offences and were reportedly refused bail. | |
More than 20 people died in the riots, sparked when supporters of the king of Buganda region felt the government had stopped him from visiting them. | |
Among more than 550 people arrested were a radio DJ, reportedly accused of sedition, and an MP from Buganda. | |
President Yoweri Museveni renewed his attack on King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II during a BBC interview. | |
He once again warned the king that his status as "constitutional monarch" meant he could not take part in partisan politics. | |
Unlawful assembly charges | |
The king, who is leader of Uganda's largest ethnic group, the Baganda, had planned to tour Kayunga region near Kampala. | |
Kayunga is a part of his kingdom but is now inhabited largely by people of another ethnic group - many of whom say they have seceded from his kingdom. | |
The government made his visit conditional on him holding talks with local leaders and says he failed to do so. | |
The move to prevent the visit angered the king's supporters, who fought with security forces in the capital, Kampala, for two days. | |
At least 120 people appeared in court on Monday charged with offences including rioting, holding unlawful assembly and incitement. | |
Ugandan newspaper the Daily Monitor reported that they had been remanded in custody until next week. | |
Back to normal | |
Police confirmed on Monday that seven more people had died of their wounds in hospital over the weekend, taking the death toll to 21, police said. | |
Museveni: ''Should matters be resolved by political leaders?'' | |
Eyewitnesses say several of those killed were shot by security forces, but the police have denied accusations that they overreacted to the protests. | |
Police chief Maj Gen Kale Kayihura said some of the rioters had also used guns, reports the New Vision newspaper. | |
In the aftermath of the riots four radio stations were closed down after the government accused them of inciting violence. | |
Radio One talk-show host Kalundi Sserumaga was arrested on Friday and is expected to appear in court this week. | |
The Daily Monitor reported that opposition MP Issa Kikungwe, from the Buganda area, was arrested on Sunday in church. | |
It quotes a police spokeswoman as saying he was one of the ringleaders of the violence. | |
AFRICA HAVE YOUR SAYLoyalty is earned, and people will fight to defend a leader who appears to have their interests at heartKingsley Ezenekwe, Lagos, Nigeria Send us your comments | AFRICA HAVE YOUR SAYLoyalty is earned, and people will fight to defend a leader who appears to have their interests at heartKingsley Ezenekwe, Lagos, Nigeria Send us your comments |
The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says the city is now getting back to normal. | |
The country's traditional kingdoms were banned in 1966 but reinstated by Mr Museveni in 1993. | |
The Baganda have long called for the restoration of a federal administration that would give their largely ceremonial king the formal political power he is currently denied. | The Baganda have long called for the restoration of a federal administration that would give their largely ceremonial king the formal political power he is currently denied. |
They are also seeking more control over their traditional lands, which include prime farmland they say has been taken by other ethnic groups. | They are also seeking more control over their traditional lands, which include prime farmland they say has been taken by other ethnic groups. |