Kizza Besigye (second left) was blinded by tear gas and pepper spray during his arrest Riots have broken out in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, over the treatment of opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
People have been blocking roads and burning tyres, and police have been firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
Mr Besigye sought medical treatment after being tear-gassed in his car and bundled roughly into a truck when he was arrested on Thursday.
It was his fourth detention this month for his participation in a “walk-to-work” protest over high prices.
President Yoweri Museveni has said the walking campaign over the rise in the cost of living is illegal.
After his arrest Dr Besigye was charged with inciting violence but released on medical grounds until 2 May.
The BBC’s Joshua Mmali in the city says he was taken to hospital from the court because he had been blinded by the tear gas and pepper spray.
It is not clear whether the Forum for Democratic Change leader is still in hospital.
Our correspondent says transport is paralysed, shops are closed and gunshots can be heard from different parts of the city.
Live ammunition has been fired in the city centre, he says.
The trouble started in Kisseka market after rumours spread that the FDC leader may have died.
The speculation about his death has spread via Twitter and on Uganda chatrooms.
The security forces are out in strength as the trouble has spread across the city, our reporter says.
“Our personnel are moving to put out fires [from tyres]. We are containing it,” police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba is quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
The BBC’s Ignatius Bahizi in the suburb of Kasubi says people are fleeing the area and vehicles are heading out of town to save them from damage.
He said when he tried to take a photo of the protesters burning tyres they turned on him and tried to attack him.
April’s “walk-to-work” campaign, organised by several opposition parties over rising fuel and food prices, has been marked by clashes between protesters and the police and the arrest of opposition politicians.
Dr Besigye, who was shot in the hand during a similar recent protest, lost to President Museveni in a February election he says was rigged.
Before the polls, Dr Besigye had called for Egypt-style uprisings in the event of fraud.
Police responded by banning public demonstrations.
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