KAMPALA (Reuters) – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni extended his 30-year rule yesterday, winning an election that international observers said lacked transparency and his main opponent, under house arrest, denounced as a sham.
One of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, Museveni won 60.8 per cent of the vote, while opposition candidate Kizza Besigye secured 35.4 per cent, according to the electoral commission.
“We have just witnessed what must be the most fraudulent electoral process in Uganda,” Besigye said in a statement, calling for an independent audit of the results.
Besigye, who had been detained three times this week, said he had been placed under house arrest. A Reuters reporter saw his home encircled by police in riot gear and media were barred from approaching it.
The United States on Friday urged Museveni to stop the security services harassing his opponents. Another of Museveni’s rivals, former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, had also been put under house arrest but was later released, his spokeswoman said.
“This election was fundamentally flawed and … results were not a reflection of the will of the Ugandan people,” Mbabazi said in a statement.
Museveni, 71, has presided over strong economic growth but is accused at home and abroad of repression of dissent and failing to tackle rampant corruption in the nation of 37 million people.
Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement party said the veteran leader’s victory showed that “opponents failed to offer any alternative apart from empty promises”.
European and Commonwealth observers criticised the handling of Thursday’s vote.
