The presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine said in a tweet that the police arrested him and his campaign team in Kalangala, in the central region of the country.
His arrest sparked protests on the island of Kalangala in Lake Victoria, where a helicopter landed that his supporters believe will be used to return him to the capital, Kampala.
Bobi Wine is considered the strongest rival to President Yoweri Museveni, who is 76 years old, in the presidential elections scheduled for January 14.
Police rejected reports of the arrests, and said they had CCTV footage of Bobi Wine supporters inciting violence and obstructing police movement.
"The candidate has been detained for continuing to organize mass demonstrations amid the increasing risks of the Coronavirus. He is being transferred to his home in Magiri, Kampala," the police said on their Facebook page.
At least 54 people were killed in November after protests erupted when Bobi Wine was arrested briefly on charges of violating social distancing measures.
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