Ugandan opposition illegally swears himself in as president

KAMPALA, Uganda, May 11 (UPI) -- Kizza Besigye lost the vote to long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni in Uganda's recent presidential election. But Besigye isn't letting the tally stand in the way of him assuming the country's highest office.

Besigye illegally swore himself in as president of Uganda on Wednesday.

The actions have tensions in Uganda's capital, Kampala, running high. President-elect Museveni is scheduled to be sworn in -- for real -- on Thursday.

Besigye -- who was supposed to be under house arrest -- and a throng of his supporters gathered in downtown Kampala on Wednesday afternoon to hold a brief inauguration ceremony. There was a stage, podium, Bible, flags and pageantry.

Reports suggest Besigye fooled police and escaped through a barrier and into the city.

The opposition leader was detained earlier this year and sentenced to house arrest in an effort to keep him from organizing a protest march.

It didn't exactly work, but Besigye's escape didn't last long.

Anti-riot police broke up the crowd of supporters using tear gas, and Besigye was arrested shortly after his appearance.

Besigye and his backers in Uganda's opposition FDC party insist that February's election results are invalid. They say the voting as rigged by Museveni and his ruling party.

FDC leaders are calling Besigye the "people's president." Many have promised to protest Thursday's official swearing-in, but the government has halted social media access in the country and set up roadblocks throughout the city.

Police are out in full force to ensure Thursday's inauguration is uninterrupted.

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Tanzania's John Magufuli are expected to be in attendance.

Though he's under arrest, Besigye has promised to set up a parallel government alongside Museveni's government.