Riots have swept across the Ugandan capital, Kampala, as protesters called for an Egyptian-style uprising against their autocratic president.

At least two people were killed and more than 100 wounded after soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas and beat demonstrators with sticks. Civilians fought back, blocking roads with burning tires and pelting vehicles with rocks.
The growing unrest -- sparked by rising food and fuel prices -- gained fresh impetus after the brutal arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigye on Thursday.
But President Yoweri Museveni, who was been in control for a quarter of a century, has met the protests with a show of force.
His military police were accused of attacking innocent spectators on Friday. One victim could be seen lying in a pool of blood, apparently after being shot in the head at a local market.
In the Karwerwe neighborhood, police chased a teenager, Andrew Kibwka, with heavy wooden sticks and rained blows on him.
“I thought the police were going to kill me,” he said minutes later, his arm bruised and a finger bleeding. “I was telling them I'm harmless, but they just carried on. I did nothing to provoke them. They beat me because I was running away.”
The 18-year-old added: “I'm in pain all over my body. The police are being too brutal. I think Uganda will get worse if the president does not resign.”
A minibus, a taxi and other vehicles that tried to travel up the street were pelted with stones. Then soldiers in armored vehicles appeared and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, and people ran away in panic.
Standing at a market, Robert Mayanja, who described himself as an activist, said: “What they are doing now shows that Museveni rigged the last election.
“If you look at Uganda, why should we vote for him after 25 years? We have high prices, we have hospitals without medicine. Is there anything to vote for?”
Mayanja, 31, said a repeat of the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia was “definitely” possible. “What we are seeing here are people who are not armed but are taking a stand against armed forces,” he added. “People are ready. It's just a question of time.
“We know they are going to arrest many people and put them in torture chambers. We know this regime has expired. These are the signs.”
Eric Mbiro, a 20-year-old student, agreed: “We are tired of this government because of the price of commodities,” he said. “There is no presidency in Uganda. The president rules the country like his own home. He is a dictator. We need change.”
(Source: The Guardian)
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