20110416
reuters

KIRUHURA, Uganda (Reuters) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday 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 told a media conference at his rural home southwest of the capital.

"If Besigye demonstrates, will it bring international oil prices down because he has demonstrated? Will it rain because Besigye has demonstrated?" said Museveni in his first public reaction to the protests.

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.

The consumer price index jumped 4.1 percent in March from February, pushing the year-on-year inflation rate to 11.1 percent, the fifth straight rise.

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.