Fury at Uganda shooting verdict

Two died at the rally for presidential contender Kizza Besigye (L)

The sentencing of a Ugandan policeman who opened fire on an opposition rally, killing two people, has been condemned as too lenient by activists.

Constable Ramathan Magara was jailed for 14 years on Wednesday after being convicted of manslaughter for the shootings three years ago.

He was initially charged with murder over the incident on 15 February 2006.

But the judge said Magara had no malice against the victims and was provoked when his car windscreen was smashed.

Furious opposition activists were joined by human rights campaigners in a protest outside Kampala High Court after the verdict.

'Painful and ridiculous'

Opposition MP, Beti Kamya, told Uganda's Monitor newspaper: "That ruling is very painful and ridiculous."

Magara, 55, had opened fire at an election campaign rally in support of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party's presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye.

A confrontation developed after the constable got out of his car to talk to a big crowd blocking the road in the Mengo area, just outside the capital, Kampala, the court had heard.

Witnesses described how Magara then got back into his car, but re-emerged shooting after someone hurled a projectile which broke his windscreen.

Vincent Kavuma and Gideon Makabayi were killed and another opposition supporter, Haruna Byamukama, was left paralysed.

Magara's lawyer had pleaded for leniency given that his client - who has two wives and eight children - was a first-time offender with dependents.

Correspondents say Magara would have faced a death sentence if convicted on the original murder charges.