UGANDA: Two people were shot dead when a soldier opened fire into the crowd at an opposition gathering in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, yesterday, a week ahead of a presidential election, witnesses and police said.
The shooting came within hours of a judge's ruling that the trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who is facing treason, a charge his supporters say is politically motivated, would be adjourned until after the February 23rd election. Mr Besigye is President Yoweri Museveni's main rival in the election.
A man, later described by police as a soldier, opened fire on the crowd after Mr Besigye's supporters accused him of being a security agent and pelted his car with stones, a witness said.
He was shooting out of the car window with an AK-47 automatic rifle as he drove away from the angry crowd outside a meeting Mr Besigye was holding with cultural leaders.
President Museveni is running for re-election to extend a 20-year rule his critics say has become increasingly autocratic. He is favourite to win next week, with the latest poll giving him 50 per cent of votes and 33 per cent for Mr Besigye.
Mr Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party says the charges against its candidate are meant to sideline him ahead of the polls, something the government denies.