Uganda Latest Election News.
By FREDERIC MUSISI & PATIENCE AHIMBISIBWE
Kampala, Uganda. – The two presidential candidates that opinion polls showed to be leading the crowded race covered at least 20,457km between them, criss-crossing the country’s 112 districts with return mop-up rallies in some.
Incumbent and ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer Yoweri Museveni, who flew to most of his rallies by helicopter, covered a ground equivalent of 10,415.6 kilometres.
He addressed 304 rallies in 290 constituencies, according to Mr Don Wanyama, the media assistant to the NRM chairman.
Dr Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party candidate, on the other hand drove 10,042km that took him to 98 per cent of the constituencies and 87 per cent of sub-counties.
Daily Monitor calculated the distance using google maps based on sequenced district-to-district itinerary of the candidates on the campaign trail.
The computation excludes intra-district movements because the updated information was not readily available.
We could not compute the mileage covered by Independent candidate Amama Mbabazi, the third strongest candidate according to the opinion polls, because his camp was unable to provide his campaign trip details after promising to do so over two days.
Because Mr Museveni and Dr Besigye visited more districts and constituencies than the other six candidates, 10,000 kilometres is roughly the average minimum distance each covered.
The FDC secretary for mobilisation, Ms Ingrid Turinawe, said well-wishers contributed Shs96 million, 11 cows, 78 goats and “countless” chicken to Dr Besigye during the campaign.
Mr Museveni received cattle too, among other gifts.
The presidential race, which has eight contestants, among them one woman, began last November and officially ended on Tuesday, ahead of today’s vote.
The numbers
Shs96m
The amount of money well-wishers donated to FDC’s Kizza Besigye during the campaign.
98% Percentage of constituencies where President Museveni addressed rallies .
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