Yoweri Museveni Wins Uganda Presidential Election

“(Kerry) urged President Museveni to rein in the police and security forces, noting that such action calls into question Uganda’s commitment to a transparent and credible election process free from intimidation”, the U.S. State Department said on Friday.

Museveni got more than 60 percent of the votes, and his nearest rival Kizza Besigye got 35 percent, according to final results announced by the election commission.

Besigye was arrested [NYT report] as the election commission released early results that showed incumbent President Yoweri Museveni leading the election with 62 percent of the vote and Besigye trailing with 33 percent.

The election on Thursday was marred by lengthy delays in the delivery of polling materials, some incidents of violence as well as an ongoing government shutdown of social media.

Came to power in 1986 – after overthrowing the autocratic Milton Obote, Museveni is still very popular in the countryside and enjoyed the financial power and electoral experience of his party.

Besigye alleged the government has thwarted efforts of the opposition party to collate evidence of voter irregularities the FDC plans to use to legally challenge the outcome of the elections.

The US, which has described Uganda as a key strategic partner, expressed concern over Besigye’s detention and the harassment of opposition party members during voting and tallying.

Besigye called on his supporters to demonstrate as a way to put pressure on the administration to remove the police and other security operatives, who he says have restricted his movements.

Worldwide observers have also raised the red flag, warning that Uganda’s electoral commission lacked transparency and accusing the police of heavy-handed treatment of the opposition.

The people of Uganda went to the polls in large numbers in Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 18 February, showing determination to exercise their civic rights and cast their vote.

The opposition candidate was detained several times over the past days.

The next closest challenger to Museveni, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, is also reportedly under house arrest.

“The next few days will be critical, as people will surely scrutinise the election process”, Maria Burnett, HRW’s senior Africa researcher, said in the statement.

The two men were once allies, with Besigye serving as Museveni as his personal doctor when they were guerrilla fighters.

The United States on Friday urged Museveni to cease the safety providers harassing his opponents.

Mr Museveni, 71, has faced growing accusations from home and overseas for oppresing dissent and failing to stop extensive corruption.

Museveni is a strong USA ally, particularly on such security issues as unrest in neighboring Somalia. He broke with the president in 1999.