VALLETTA, (AFP) – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, yesterday, denied that the arrest of his main rival was political, as Commonwealth leaders raised concerns over whether the east African country is sliding towards repression ahead of elections in March.

Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested on November 14 and charged with treason and terrorism after returning from exile, vowing to fight Museveni’s “dictatorship” in the upcoming polls.

“Nobody is trying to stop Besigye from standing in elections,” Museveni told a news conference on the first day of the summit of the 53-nation grouping of mostly former British colonies being held in Malta.

“One of the emphases of the new democratic order in Uganda is no impunity,” he said in response to a barrage of questions from journalists about Besigye’s jailing.

Denouncing the “misinformation” surrounding the case against Besigye, a combative Museveni said the proceedings against the opposition leader were part of an “open process” and that he would be afforded a quick trial.

“I hope that no one in the international community is arguing that anybody is above the law,” he asserted in response to foreign criticism. “Nobody in Uganda is above the law, not even a sitting president.”

A criminal court granted Besigye bail on Friday but it remained unclear whether he would be released after a military court separately set a trial date of December 19 for him to answer terrorism charges.

If convicted on the treason and terrorism counts, Besigye could face the death penalty.

A Commonwealth human rights forum has said that Uganda would not be an appropriate venue for the next scheduled summit in 2007, because of its poor record on democracy and good governance.

Commonwealth leaders made clear to Museveni that the jailing of the opposition leader was not in line with democratic principles.

The Commonwealth has in the past suspended membership of countries that it feels do not adhere to principles of good governance and democracy, including Zimbabwe, which quit the grouping after it was suspended in 2002.