Kampala  - At least two people were shot dead and an unknown number injured in the Ugandan capital Kampala Thursday when security forces fired live bullets and tear gas at demonstrators, local media reports said.

Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against an apparent move to block the king of the Baganda tribe, Ronald Muwenda Muteb, from visiting a town north-east of Kampala.

People began burning tires, blocking roads in the business district and throwing stones and bottles at police and military personnel.

Police fired tear gas and live bullets at the surging crowds and two people were shot dead, according to a report by a private TV station, NBS.

Deputy police spokesman, Richard Musisi told the German Press Agency dpa that he could not confirm the reports.

"A number of people have been injured but we have no figures," he said.

Shops were closed as the running battles began and thousands of people fled the city centre.

The riots kicked off when police blocked the prime minister of the Bagandan king from overseeing preparations for youth day ceremonies he was due to attend on Saturday.

The Ugandan government also angered the Baganda, the country's largest and most influential tribe, by deploying heavily-armed police and military at the scene of the planned celebrations.

"It is not (up to) the government to give security to our king but it is God who provides it," the kingdom's spokesman, Meldad Lubega told reporters Thursday morning. "We can even guard him with spears and arrows because we love him."

One of the placards held by a demonstrator read: "Whether we die or not we shall have to go and listen to our king."

Uganda revived kingdom rule 16 years ago after its abolition in the 1960s, but the current monarchs have no political power and are restricted to cultural functions only.

The Baganda tribe has been at loggerheads with president Yoweri Museveni's government, with the kingdom's administration and its nearly 10 million subjects demanding greater power for their king.  dpa