Defeated candidate in disputed election and former friend of president had been charged with inciting protests
Kizza Besigye, Uganda's main opposition leader, who was arrested and charged with inciting protests that have left at least five dead, was released on bail on Wednesday.
He immediately vowed to carry on his campaign called "Walk to Work", which asks Ugandans to leave their cars at home and walk to work to highlight the high price of fuel and food.
Besigye, the runner-up to the president, Yoweri Museveni, in a disputed February election, was detained Thursday as he walked to his office with hundreds of supporters to condemn soaring fuel and food prices.
"On my part I can say very clearly that we will continue to engage in all activities … that are within our civil rights," Besigye said after the ruling. "We don't cause anybody any harm and will not accept the police or any other institution [trampling] over our rights."
The former ally of Museveni, once his personal doctor, was released on bail, from the small courthouse in Nakasongola, 80 miles from Kampala, after the prosecutor did not raise objections.
Besigye, and three other opposition members who had been charged alongside him, smiled as the judge granted the group bail and chatted with supporters outside the court.
The "Walk to Work" protests are blamed for triggering bloody clashes between opposition supporters and police and soldiers in Kampala and at least five other towns in the east African country.
But international rights groups have criticised what they say is a heavy-handed government response and the detention of Besigye and another opposition leader, Norbert Mao.
Museveni, in power since 1986, has defeated Besigye at the last three elections. After his last defeat in February Besigye said the country was ripe for a popular uprising. Museveni warned he would not allow any demonstrations.
Some analysts have accused Besigye of opportunistically using widespread anger about rising prices to try to topple the government.
Museveni blames drought and soaring global oil prices for Uganda's double-digit inflation rate.
The government this week condemned Irish and Dutch diplomats for visiting Besigye and Mao in prison, saying they had no official permission. The information minister, Kabakumba Matsiko, said "foreign elements" were funding the opposition to try to destabilise the government. the fledgling oil producer.
Inflation has risen across east Africa in recent months, pushed up by increases in food and fuel prices.
Kenya's government has cut fuel taxes to cushion the impact.