Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) on Sunday declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni as winner of Friday’s general elections, extending his 25 years in power.
Museveni, one of Africa’s longest serving leaders won by 68.38 percent of the vote in the polls, which the opposition has described as “sham.”
Museveni, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate who was seeking a fourth re-election, has ruled the East African country since 1986.
The recent opinion polls had predicted that Museveni will win the elections with over 60 percent. In 1996, he received about 75 percent of the vote, but fell to 65 percent in 2001 and 59 percent in 2006.
Museveni’s longest rival and former ally Kizza Besigye came second with 26.01 percent of the vote. This was the third time Besigye was standing against Museveni. He challenged Museveni in 2001 and 2006 but lost both to the latter.
The rest of the percentage was shared by Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao, Abed Bwanika, Beti Kamya, Samuel Lubega and Bidandi Sali.
Besigye on Sunday rejected the outcome of the polls saying the exercise was “sham” with massive rigging.
“Inter Party Cooperation categorically rejects the outcome of the elections. We reject the leadership of Museveni and any person or persons he may purport to appoint,” said Besigye at a media briefing before the official announcement of the results by EC.