Nigeria - The Presidency has denied reports that the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan was attacked in Uganda where he is attending African Union (AU) meeting. In a response to THISDAY inquiries on the reported attack, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said the report was not true and advised that it be discountenanced.

"There was no attack. We only passed by opposition elements, whose leader returned to Uganda today (yesterday), during a peaceful procession on our way to the airport", he explained.

However, some wired reports claimed that the convoy of Jonathan was stoned and pelted with pebbles. They did not advance reasons why what they claimed happened.

Jonathan left for Uganda Wednesday shortly after inaugurating the panel to investigate post election violence where 10 corps members were killed and the mayhem in Akwa Ibom State.

Thursday, Reuters reported that Ugandan police shot at a crowd in the capital Kampala after it attacked a car carrying Jonathan who had attended President Yoweri Museveni's inauguration, a government spokesman said.

One person was killed in the incident, according to the report.

"The car belonging to Jonathan was stoned by mobs," said Fred Opolot, director of the government media centre. "The security shot around the area, and one person was shot dead."

The 75-year leader was sworn in to a fourth term.

Opposition leader Kizza Besigye over the last month has been leading "walk to work" protests over the rising cost of food and fuel. Besigye, whom Museveni defeated in his February re-election win, said the marches are also to protest government corruption.

Those marches have been the most serious unrest in sub-Saharan Africa since protests swept out leaders in Egypt and Tunisia. Museveni says he will not be swept from office by Egypt-style protests.

A 21-gun salute rang out before a crowd of thousands who watched the country's chief justice administer an oath to Museveni. Leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe attended the ceremony.

Museveni appeared to make reference to Besigye in a speech, saying that opponents wanted to cause chaos but that their "disruptive schemes" will be defeated.

Museveni said the country would begin pumping oil within three years, and that Uganda would no longer need to rely on imports.

He also sought to highlight the country's progress in the last 25 years, saying that 8 million primary students are in school today compared with 2.5 million in 1986. He also promised to fight corruption.

Museveni also indulged in a moment of self-congratulations, saying: "I thank the Ugandans for overwhelmingly voting for me with 68.3 per cent."

Although official returns showed Museveni winning that amount, Besigye says the results were falsified, and that Museveni and Besigye both received a bit under 50 per cent of the vote, an outcome that would have required a runoff.

Ahamefula Ogbu

This Day/13/05/2011