MUSEVENI WINS UGANDA ELECTION WITH OVER 75% OF VOTES
Electoral commission cites biometric failures and internet shutdown as factors in delayed results
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has secured a seventh consecutive term in office, winning more than 75% of the vote in the country’s latest general election, NTV Uganda reported on January 16.
According to provisional results released by the Electoral Commission and reported by the broadcaster, Museveni garnered 5,148,845 votes, representing 75.38% of total valid ballots cast. His closest challenger, opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, received 1,414,619 votes, amounting to 20.17%.
The remaining votes were split among six other candidates. Nathana Nandala received 144,564 votes (2.12%), followed by Mugisha Muntu with 38,582 votes (0.56%), and Frank Buura with 29,713 votes (0.44%).
The elections were conducted under heightened security and amid criticism from opposition groups and international observers, who cited concerns over transparency, media restrictions and the detention of political activists in the lead-up to the polls.
Electoral officials attributed delays in result announcements to technical challenges with biometric voter identification kits. A nationwide internet and communications blackout, implemented on the eve of the election, also hindered the transmission of results and further complicated the verification process.
Museveni, 81, first came to power in 1986 and is now set to extend his rule beyond 40 years. His latest victory reinforces his status as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
