Ugandan police arrest American citizen

Ugandan police have arrested an American citizen, who was identified as both a missionary and a freelance journalist, on weapons charges, the police spokesman said Tuesday.

Photo: Ugandan police arrest American citizen

Assuman Mugenyi said residents became suspicious of two men leaving suspect Peter Waldron's home in Kampala on Monday night with two large bags. When the men were confronted, they produced an assault rifle, he said.

The men were eventually arrested, and police recovered two assault rifles and 90 rounds of ammunition from the men. When police searched Waldron's home, Mugenyi said they found two more assault rifles in his wardrobe. He was arrested along with three Ugandans and a Congolese.

Mugenyi said Waldron, whose passport says he was born in Wyoming, was a freelance writer and photographer and worked for a private newsletter called The Africa Dispatch.

"It will be noted that the same publisher of this newsletter was also among a group of diplomats at the High Court during the trial of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye," Mugenyi said, attempting to tie the weapons to the main opposition presidential candidate in Thursday's election.

But Waldron, 59, also had business cards identifying him as the founder of City of Faith Ministries, Inc., and as an adviser to an organization called Contact America Group, as well as three other organizations. None of the groups could immediately be identified or contacted for comment, reports the AP.

I.L.