as President Yoweri Museveni has taken a strong lead in results from Thursday's presidential election. The opposition say they were attacked by security forces in the home of an MP in Butambala, about 55km (35 miles) south-west of the capital, Kampala, while police blame the violence on the opposition. Electoral figures so far put Museveni in front with 75% of the vote and his main rival Bobi Wine on 21%, based on returns from 60% of polling stations. The US embassy has issued a security alert because of reports the security forces were "using teargas and firing into the air to disperse gatherings".

Wine's home in Kampala has been surrounded by security forces "effectively placing him and his wife under house arrest", his National Unity Platform (NUP) said. The internet shutdown imposed earlier in the week means news of the violence is only emerging on Friday in Uganda. Opposition MP Muwanga Kivumbi told the AFP news agency that soldiers and police fired tear gas and then live bullets at hundreds of people who were following early results at his home. "Ten were killed inside my house," he said. Human rights activist Agather Atuhaire confirmed this account to the Reuters news agency. However, local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe disputes this, maintaining police fired in self defence after a "a group of NUP goons" had attacked a police station and planned to overrun a tallying centre. She told Reuters they were carrying machetes, axes and boxes of matches and said at least seven people had been killed. (BBC)