Uganda's Museveni ruler extends 30-rule in a general elections marred by violence

Uganda's Museveni extends 30-year presidency. Declared winner of elections marred by violence and fraud.


Photo: AFP
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni extended his 30-year rule on Saturday, 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 percent of the vote, while main opposition candidate Kizza Besigye secured 35.4 percent, 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, according to his spokeswoman.
as he tried to access a house where ballots were suspected of being altered.

Credit: AP/Ben Curtis
A Ugandan soldier points a heavy-calibre machine gun in the direction of supporters of opposition leader Kizza Besigye



Photo:Ben Curtis/AP
Kizza Besigye, one of Museveni's main challengers, was placed under house arrests as the results were announced.

The EU observer mission, who had been monitoring the eclectios, said it (general elections)  had been conducted in an intimidating atmosphere, while Commonwealth observers said the poll "fell short of meeting some key democratic benchmarks."
Eduard Kukan, chief observer for the EU mission, told reporters in Kampala the poll had been undermined by a "lack of transparency and independence" at the Ugandan electoral commission.
"State actors created an intimidating atmosphere for both voters and candidates," he added.
Besigye urged the international community to denounce the poll win by Museveni, who has won favor with the West by sending Ugandan troops to Somalia to battle Islamist militants with ties to al Qaeda.
"Please reject the temptation to ratify this sham election," said Besigye, who was Museveni's personal doctor in the 1980s.
Credit:Huffpo