Kampala, Uganda - sitting outside his shop laundry in a quiet suburb, usually the capital of Uganda, Kampala, David Ssentongo points to slow ash locals tires burned in protest and rage.
"People are angry," says Mr. Ssentongo. "They are angry because of the way in which the presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye was arrested yesterday." But they are also angry because prices are increasing, because they cannot afford to take the bus to work, because they can not buy milk for their children. ?
Friday, Kampala awakened to a day of rioting. Markets downtown to the suburbs, demonstrators set up roadblocks made of rubble and burning tires and the police and the army fired live ammunition at demonstrators.
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In early evening, at least two people had been killed by bullet and 143 were hospitalized, including a Ugandan child 2 years old with bullet wounds, said the Red Cross. The Minister of Internal Affairs has developed the number of order 360.
The main spark for the riots was the brutal arrest of Dr Besigye, s€ ? s main opposition leader. For the past three weeks, Besigye and other opposition leaders attempted to walk to work in protest against the increase in the cost of living. In March, inflation on food increased nearly 30% and fuel at more than 10 per cent.
Police, who have banned all demonstrations, arrested Besigye three times, he trapped for six days and was allegedly shot in the finger with a rubber bullet.
On Thursday, the reaction of the authoritarian Government became even more brutal. After police prevented him from walking, Besigye got in his car and led to Kampala. The first police has shown, stopping the car of the Besigye at a roundabout and refrained from tear gas at crowds of fire growth.
But as it appeared the Besigye protest could be petering out, plainclothes police arrived, shattered the Windows of his vehicle and he sprayed with tear gas before him drag in a police van. When Besigye appeared before the tribunal later this day there, he was unable to see. A doctor who saw him said that it is too early to say if the damage was permanent. Friday evening, Besigye flew to Nairobi to receive medical treatment for injuries, he received the police Thursday.
Analysts say the violence on Friday and the reaction of the Government will only exacerbate the public anger over rising prices and the repression of the opposition.
"The rejection by the way the Government handled Besigye sweeps the Board of Directors," said Frederick Golooba-Mutebi, political analyst at the University of Makerere in Kampala.
In February Besigye lost the President incumbent Yoweri Museveni for the third consecutive time. Besigye immediately rejected the results, calling the election a "sham" and seeking the mass protests.
But nothing happened, and many began to write political obituaries of the Besigye. Now, analysts say, the brutal treatment he received made him relevant again.
"Museveni has now succeeded in stimulating support so Besigye, who had become marginal after the elections," said Mr. Golooba-Mutebi.
With the protests draw discontent over rising fuel prices and perceived government inaction and corruption, the situation remains tense. The Kenya Government recently cut, taxes on fuels to suppress popular discontent, Museveni has so far not acted and dismissed demonstrations as "idiot".
"It is because of what happens to Besigye, due to rising prices and the arrogant reaction of the Government to any person who complains," said Golooba-Mutebi. "The situation is much worse that the Government is admitting."
Standing outside his store of laundry, Ssentongo said that the reaction of the Government of stirring more anger and this turmoil is likely to continue. "Prices are only going higher and growth of anger", said Ssentongo. "This will end quickly."
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