Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has won his sixth term in office with 56% percent of votes.
Museveni’s 38-year-old close challenger was among the 10 opposition candidates and came second with 34.8 percent of the votes.
The country’s electoral commission announced the result of the presidential election on Saturday, AFP reports.
The Commission Chairman, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, said, “The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni… elected President of the republic of Uganda.”
He added that the turnout was 57.22 of almost 18 million registered voters.
Byabakama urged the population to “remain calm and accept the outcome of these elections”.
He, however, reminded those celebrating to be mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But his main challenger, Bobi Wine, said the election process was marred by ‘electoral fraud and violence’.
Bobi Wine’s political party the National Unity Party insisted that the singer-turned politician was under “effective house arrest”.
Wine Under Heavy Guard
Wine was forcefully restricted at his home on the outskirts of Kampala as the results were announced.
The government argued that it was providing him with security.
Wine’s home remained sealed off by soldiers and police on Saturday and he felt under “siege”.
He told AFP Friday evening that security forces had breached the fence around it.
He said, “They jumped over my fence. They came inside my compound. I feel threatened.”
But the army’s deputy spokesman Deo Akiiki said the soldiers were there for “his own security and the security of people around him”.
Violent Campaigns preceded the election
Uganda’s presidential election was preceded by the fiercest violent campaigns in many years.
There were arrest and harassment of opposition leaders, as well as attacks on the media.
At least 54 people lost their lives in the process.
Wine alleged widespread fraud
Even though Ugandan government described the election process as “peacefully”, Museveni’s rival, Wine, alleged widespread fraud such as ballot box stuffing.
On Friday Wine accused the ruling party of beating and chasing away his party agents from polling stations.
He said, “Whatever is being declared is a complete sham, we reject it and we dissociate ourselves with it.”
“They jumped over my fence. They came inside my compound. I feel threatened.”
Museveni extends 35-year rule
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is one of the Africa’s longest serving presidents.
He took power in 1986 and the recently concluded presidential election’s win would be his sixth term in office.
He faced a stiff battle from the 38-year-old former ragga singer whose turn to politics fired up the youthful population.
