By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Uganda’s electoral commission has declared the long-term ruler, Yoweri Museveni as the winner of Thursday’s presidential poll, extending his four decades in power by additional five years.
Museveni, 81, secured 72% of the vote, the election commission announced on Saturday, leaving his closest challenger, Bobi Wine with 25%.
Wine, the opposition leader who condemned what he described as “fake results” and “ballot stuffing” has not provided any details and the authorities have not responded to his allegations.
African Union election observers however say they saw “no evidence of ballot stuffing” during the presidential and legislative elections. Wine has called for non-violent protests.
Museveni first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 and has since then has won seven elections.
The election process was marred by violence and Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi says that at least 21 people have been killed around the country in recent days.
Authorities only confirmed seven deaths so far.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among celebrated Yoweri Museveni’s victory at the electoral commission building.
Leading the African Union observer mission, Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan told journalists that “the government should refrain from the suspension of internet access” close to the election.
Jonathan also condemned “reports of intimidation, arrest and abductions” saying they “instilled fear and eroded public trust in the electoral process”, AFP news agency reports.
