36 members of Uganda's opposition party charged with 'Terrorism, Says lawyer

Ugandan authorities have charged 36 members of an opposition party with "terrorism" after they were deported from neighbouring Kenya, one of their lawyers told AFP on Monday, denouncing a "witch hunt".

The members of the Forum for Democratic Change party (FDC) were arrested in Kenya and charged with what lawyer Erias Lukwago called an "absurd abuse" of a legal procedure by the Uganda authorities.

"This is an absurd abuse of a judicial process to witch-hunt and torment opposition supporters," the lawyer said, claiming that the FDC members had travelled to Kisumu, Kenya, to attend a training seminar.

In a press release, the Ugandan police announced their arrests, saying, without giving further details, that they were "engaged in covert activities suspected to be subversive, drawing the attention of Kenyan security forces".

Last week, about 60 people, including a prominent TV and radio presenter and three young protest leaders, were arrested and charged for taking part in anti-corruption rallies.

Inspired by widespread protests against the government in neighbouring Kenya led largely by Gen-Z activists, Ugandans took to the streets of the capital Kampala to demand action in the wake of several high-profile graft scandals.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled with an iron fist for almost four decades, had warned the demonstrators they were "playing with fire" if they went ahead despite a police ban.