Uganda’s Security Minister Elly Tumwine has backed police action after 37 people were killed on Wednesday and Thursday following clashes with supporters of opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine.

In a media briefing Mr Tumwine said:

“Police have a right to shoot you and kill you if you reach a certain level of violence. Can I repeat? Police have a right to shoot you and you die for nothing.”

Bobi Wine appeared in court on Friday and has been released on bail after being charged with spreading coronavirus.

He has been accused of failing to adhere to health measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus while campaigning for next year’s election.

Uganda government spokesman Don Wanyama told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme that security officers could not “just fold their arms and allow anarchy to happen”.

He added that the police were responding to a security breach in the capital, Kampala.

He also defended President Yoweri Museveni for adhering to health protocols.

Mr Wanyama said:

“President Museveni who is the NRM presidential candidate, I think has stuck by the rules that were issued by the electoral commission and the ministry of health… but unfortunately for the opposition they have chosen to take a path of defiance placing their supporters and the wider public at risk.”