Ugandan police fired tear gas on Monday to disperse opposition supporters as they arrested a top presidential challenger, Kizza Besigye, days ahead of presidential polls, reports said.
"The arrest followed chaotic scenes as Besigye campaigned in parts of Kampala" ahead of Thursday's election, the state-run New Vision newspaper reported, adding that tear gas was fired.
The Daily Monitor newspaper said he was arrested after trying to hold a rally in the center of the capital, which police blocked.
Besigye, a three-time failed presidential candidate, heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party. He has been repeatedly arrested in the past, and is commonly released without charge hours later.
Seven opposition candidates are vying to deny veteran leader President Yoweri Museveni a fifth term at the February 18 election, and there are fears violence could mar the campaign, with all sides accusing each other of arming militias to press their claims to power.
Besigye's FDC party officials accused the government of blocking their efforts to address supporters in the city centre.
"Museveni has declared all public places in Kampala central a 'no go area' for opposition," FDC spokesman Semujju Nganda told the Monitor, adding they had hoped to hold a rally in a central football stadium.
"Police blocked us. This has left us with no choice but to address voters on the streets and roads," he added.
Television footage showed Besigye being put into the front seat of a police car, surrounded by riot police and journalists. There was no immediate comment from the police.
Museveni faces his stiffest challenge yet from Besigye, his former personal doctor, and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and ruling party stalwart now running as an independent.
The US State Department on Monday stressed the need for a "peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process" and called on all sides to "refrain from provocative actions or rhetoric that raise tensions."
Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo earlier this month claimed opposition parties were raising militia to disrupt the election, claims they have denied.
"Violence or threats of violence from any group or individual are unacceptable, and those who participate in such acts – regardless of which candidate they support – must be held accountable," the US statement added.
"We strongly urge the government and electoral authorities to ensure a level playing field and transparent process, including through fair application of the law, so that all candidates have an equal opportunity to express their views and voters have the opportunity to hear them."
