Nearly two dozen people have been killed in western Uganda as clashes between supporters of two former presidential election rivals turn violent.

Police said in a statement late on Sunday that fighting claimed 22 lives in the area where opposition candidate Kizza Besigye had a strong showing against veteran leader Yoweri Museveni, who won the February 18 presidential race.

The statement said, however, that clashes erupted after local elections on February 24 when supporters of Forum for Democratic Change accused the government of stoking violence in the area.

It said 16 civilians were killed in the fighting between rival camps while six others died after police intervened to calm down the unrest.

The violence also left some 10 people injured, including four soldiers, police said, adding that some 80 people were arrested during and around 150 houses were burned down.

“We have information that criminal gangs are being incited,” police said, adding, “We caution those misleading the youth into engaging in reckless ... attacks on the security forces and other innocent people to desist.”