Museveni wins sixth term

UGANDA’S electoral commission yesterday declared incumbent Yoweri Museveni winner of the country’s presidential election, extending his 35-year rule as his main rival Bobi Wine alleged fraud.

Museveni secured 5,85 million votes, or 58,64 percent, of the total votes cast, while main opposition candidate Bobi Wine won 3,48 million votes or 34,83 percent, the commission said in a televised news conference. Voter turnout was 52 percent.

“The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni elected president of the republic of Uganda,” said chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama.

The veteran leader campaigned for a sixth term, arguing his long experience in office makes him a good leader while promising to keep delivering stability and progress.

In the parliamentary election, where candidates were vying for 529 seats, results were still coming in but Ugandan media reported that 56 candidates from Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) had won their races, while the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), previously the largest opposition party, has so far won 34 seats.

The country’s vice president, Edward Ssekandi, was one of a number of senior ruling party MPs who lost their seats, according to broadcaster NTV Uganda.

The FDC won 35 seats in the 2016 election, but the NUP had no seats in the previous parliament – Wine was elected as an independent and joined the party last year.

Police recorded 42 election-related offences nationwide during voting and tallying so far, police spokesman Fred Enanga said on Friday night on local NBS TV. — Online.