Ugandan opposition barred
Key Ugandan opposition leader and mayor of the capital Erias Lukwago was ordered out of office by a judge Monday just hours after resuming the post, amid a power struggle with the ruling party.
The political battle came amid criticism of President Yoweri Museveni --who is preparing to run in elections scheduled for 2016, which will be his 30th year in power -- for stifling opposition groups.
Kampala mayor Lukwago was dismissed from the powerful post in November by the city council -- dominated by Museveni's ruling National
Resistance Movement (NRM) -- after they accused him of incompetence.
He returned to his office on Monday after a court ruling last week said his removal had been illegal.
But hours after Lukwago celebrated his return with supporters, Attorney General Peter Nyombi challenged the ruling, prompting the appeal court to again bar him from office, Uganda's government-run New Vision newspaper reported.
Lukwago, who was elected mayor in 2011 as an independent candidate, has been a vocal challenger of the government.
However, many of the mayor's powers have in recent years been transferred to the city council, headed by a leader appointed by the president.
- Sapa