Uganda's opposition presidential candidate arrested over violation of coronavirus rules

Police in Uganda on Wednesday arrested opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi over violation of COVID-19 safety measures, according to media reports.

New Vision newspaper reported that Kyagulanyi, head of National Unity Platform party, was apprehended in the eastern district of Luuka where he was scheduled to campaign ahead of the 2021 general election.

The paper said security personnel surrounded Kyagulanyi's car before pulling him out and transferring him to a police station in the eastern town of Jinja.

"The standard operating procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus were not observed at Kyagulanyi's rally in Luuka," reported the paper.

Kyagulanyi's arrest comes just hours after Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, warned presidential candidates against defying electoral commission guidelines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

The prominent opposition leader, who is also known as Bobi Wine, has been accused of holding processions and campaign rallies in defiance of the guidelines. Uganda's electoral body earlier this month cleared 11 presidential candidates, including incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni, to run in the 2021 general elections.