Uganda police release activists held over lawyer arrest

Uganda police on Thursday released seven protesters, including a prominent human rights lawyer, whom it had detained after they rallied against the imprisonment of another lawyer.

Rights groups are furious over the military trial of veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who was snatched last year from neighbouring Kenya.

The 68-year-old retired army colonel has been accused of possessing weapons and other offences, but the trial has drawn international criticism.

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This week, one of Besigye’s lawyers was detained and imprisoned during the latest hearing.

On Thursday, small groups of “alleged political activists including some lawyers… staged an illegal demonstration” in the capital Kampala, marching towards the high court, city police spokesman Patrick Onyango said.

Among them was human rights lawyer Agather Atuhaire, wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Stop abuse of power”.

“The suspects are currently being detained at the Central Police Station (Kampala),” Onyango said, adding that they were facing charges of “being a common nuisance”.

They were later charged with causing a disturbance to traffic and public nuisance, and were released on bail.

Some of those detained already face charges related to previous rallies against corruption, inspired by anti-government youth rallies in Kenya last year.

They included Praise Aloikin Opoloje, detained in September after staging a semi-naked protest.