Ugandan President Museveni defends Besigye arrest

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has defended the arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, insisting he “wanted to cause violence”.

According to the re-elected Museveni, Besigye wanted to spark violence in the country with his post election actions.

In the space of ten days, Kizza Besigye has been arrested three times in Kampala.

Museveni was declared winner in the first round of the presidential election held last Thursday.

Despite protests by the international community, Besigye was once again arrested on Monday on the sidelines of an event at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission.

Besigye has been under preventive house arrest since Friday evening on the grounds that he intended to announce his own election results.

The U.S. government has since urged the Ugandan government to immediately release Besigye – a plea that is yet to take effect.