By Muheebwa Hillary in Kampala.
Kampala, Uganda. (News Of The South) – Uganda’s incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni has won a fifth term as president. The win extends his rule to 30 years in office, having captured power through a coup in 1986.
The National Resistance Movement flag bearer won the vote with 60.75% of the vote. His erstwhile rival, and four time presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye, of Forum for Democratic Change, (FDC), garnered 35% of the cast votes. This is according to results released by the Election Commission today, 20th February 2016.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni received 5,617,503 votes, a percentage of 60.75 for participating voters. According to Electoral Commission statistics, there 15, 277, 198 registered voters. There was a voter turnout of 63%.
Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and the FDC flag bearer was the second, receiving 3,270,290 votes, representing 35.37 per cent of the total votes cast. This result is an improvement from the 26 percent Besigye scored during the 2011 general elections.
Uganda Electoral Commision Chairman Badru Kigundu
Former Prime Minister and NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi was third.
However, the Forum for Democratic Change rejected results of the election shortly before the official announcement. In a press release sent to media houses, the FDC party president, Rt Gen Mugisha Muntu called upon all Ugandans and the international community to “reject and condemn the fraud that has been committed and to expose it to the fullest extent possible.”
“At a strategic level, the situation is highly in our favour. At a tactical level, where Museveni still has some temporary advantages, we must focus on shifting that imbalance in our favour,” added part of the statement.
EU observers have also criticized the poll, saying the governing party had created an “intimidating atmosphere” and that the opposition alleged vote rigging.
While praising the “remarkable determination” of Ugandans to vote, EU Chief Observer Eduard Kukan said the governing National Resistance Movement’s “domination of the political landscape distorted the fairness of the campaign”.
The election has been marred by sporadic violence and opposition allegations of electoral fraud, with social media sites and messaging apps blocked.
Seven candidates were vying to unseat the incumbent.
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