Riots after Uganda opposition leader's trip is halted

Kizza Besigye told The Associated Press on Wednesday that an airline official had said the Ugandan government would not allow the plane to land with him aboard. However, Ugandan official Fred Opolot said the government had not interfered.

Security arrest opposition leader Kibirige Mayanja, second left, at the Constitutional Square in the capital city centre of Kampala, on Tuesday, where he and other opposition leaders attended a rally protesting against high food and fuel prices two days before the swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni. Photo: AP.

Uganda’s top opposition leader says he was kicked off a flight from Kenya, and his supporters back home have started rioting.

Kizza Besigye told The Associated Press on Wednesday that an airline official had said the Ugandan government would not allow the plane to land with him aboard. However, Ugandan official Fred Opolot said the government had not interfered.

Mr. Besigye, who has been leading anti—government marches, finished second in this year’s presidential election. He was seriously wounded by police late last month and travelled to Kenya for medical care.

Ugandan police used tear gas on Wednesday to quell the riots that sprang up after the reports surfaced that Mr. Besigye had been blocked from returning.