Ugandan Opposition Arrested Amid Protests Over Kenyan Detentions

Fourteen Ugandan opposition officials were arrested during a march to protest the detention and deportation of their colleagues by Kenyan authorities. The group was charged with terrorism-related offenses, which they denied. Opposition supporters believe the government is fabricating charges to suppress dissent.

Police arrested 14 Ugandan opposition officials and supporters on Monday during a march towards the Kenyan embassy in Kampala. The demonstration was held to protest Nairobi's decision to detain and deport several of their colleagues, local media reported.

The arrests follow last month's incident when Kenyan authorities detained 36 members of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who had traveled to Kenya for a training course. The detained individuals were deported back to Uganda and charged with terrorism-related offences, which they denied.

On Monday, 14 other FDC members, including two lawmakers, were arrested for 'participating in unlawful assembly activities' as they marched in protest. They were later charged with being 'a public nuisance,' according to police spokesperson Patrick Onyango. Opposition critics argue that President Yoweri Museveni's government is using fabricated charges to suppress political dissent, a claim government officials deny.

(With inputs from agencies.)