President Yoweri Museveni comfortably won Uganda’s Presidential polls, winning the mandate for a further five year term.
The 71 year old has headed the country since toppling a military regime in 1986, and has won every election since democracy was instituted in 1996. He picked up 60.75% of the vote in this election, while opposition leader Kizza Besigye took 35%
However, Besigye spent election night under house arrest, and immediately described the results as fraudulent, with government intimidation and vote rigging. In a statement, he said: “We have just witnessed what must be the most fraudulent electoral process in Uganda,”
The EU Observer mission agreed with Besigye’s concerns, according to the BBC.
“The election has been marred by sporadic violence and opposition allegations of electoral fraud, with social media sites and messaging apps blocked.” the site noted.
Museveni won his first two elections in 1996 and 2001, and then won a referendum to have the constitution abolish term limits so he could run for further terms. Besigye, a former ally, has challenged him in each of the last three elections.