Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned he would not allow protests against food and fuel price rises led by opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Museveni blamed drought in the east African country for the rising food prices and said international events had pushed up the price of oil.

"There will be no demonstrations in Kampala. If Besigye wants to walk for exercise let him do it somewhere else," Museveni said. 

Prices have been rising after drought cut food output across Uganda, while higher global oil prices have increased transport costs, pushing up food prices further in urban areas.

Protests spread
Security forces on Thursday fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a crowd of more than 1,000 led by Besigye, Museveni's closest rival in February elections.

Besigye said he was injured in the march to the centre of Kampala after a rubber bullet struck his finger.

Protests were also reported in the second busiest commercial town of Jinja in eastern Uganda, Masaka in south western Uganda, and Gulu to the north, epicentre of a now fizzled-out two-decade rebellion.

Walk to work
After losing in February elections, Besigye called for peaceful protests against Museveni's 25-year-old rule, saying the poll had been rigged, but they failed to get off the ground.

While campaigning, he said east Africa's third largest economy that has struck oil was ripe for an Egypt-style revolt.

Besigye said he was not calling for processions, but simply asking people to walk to work two times a week to show solidarity with the poor.

First protest
Opposition and civil society groups launched their first "walk to work" protest against steep rises in the cost of living on Monday but it was swiftly stifled by police, and opposition leaders were detained. Besigye was charged with inciting unrest.

source: Reuters