Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago ousted by councillors

Kampala, Uganda: The mayor of the Ugandan capital Kampala has been voted out of office by councillors after a tribunal found him guilty of incompetence and abuse of office.

Erias Lukwago lost the ballot by 29 votes to three.

Police fired tear gas to break up a protest against Mr Lukwago's dismissal, state-owned media reports.

His supporters believe the government plotted against him to wrest control of the mayor's post from the opposition.

Mr Lukwago is a member of the opposition Democratic Party (DP).

He was elected mayor in a popular vote in January 2011.

Two weeks ago, a government-appointed tribunal ruled that he had failed to convene meetings, had disobeyed administrative directives and had incited the public to withhold taxes.

Mr Lukwago described the tribunal, headed by a judge, as a kangaroo court and said President Yoweri Museveni was behind the move to oust him in order to open the way for his allies to take control of the city following their defeat in the 2011 election.

Business came to a standstill and public transport was paralysed in parts of Kampala after Mr Lukwago's supporters protested against his dismissal, the state-owned New Vision newspaper reports.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters and warned the public not to engage in criminal activity, it added.

-BBC