Ugandan Police Detain Opposition Leader Besigye

Ugandan opposition leader and presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, center, is arrested by riot police after attempting to walk with his supporters along a street in downtown Kampala, Feb. 15, 2016.

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was detained by police and released short time later Monday, as he campaigned for the country's presidential election this week.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas at a Besigye event in the capital, Kampala, and took him into custody. He was then taken to another location outside of Kampala before being freed.

Besigye has been arrested numerous times in recent years as he led protests against the government of President Yoweri Museveni.

Ugandans go to the polls Thursday to vote for president, parliamentary seats and local government seats.

Museveni has been in power since a 1986 coup and won landslide victories in 2006 and 2011 in elections that observers said were marred by irregularities and intimidation of opposition parties.

Besigye is making his fourth run for president.