Uganda polls

Museveni eyes win

Police surround opposition leader�s home

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was poised to win a fifth term yesterday, with the results of most votes cast in the country’s election showing him far ahead of his closest rival, who was under house arrest, reports AFP.
With the results of 83 percent of polling stations counted, the veteran leader was on 61 per cent compared to 34 per cent for detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose house was surrounded by dozens of armed police in riot gear. US Secretary of State John Kerry has voiced concern about the election, urging Museveni to “rein in” his security forces.
International observers also raised the red flag, warning that Uganda’s electoral commission lacked transparency and accusing the police of heavy-handed treatment of the opposition.
Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) yesterday released a statement calling “on all Ugandans and the international community to reject and condemn the fraud that has been committed.”
The election on Thursday was disrupted in the capital Kampala by the late arrival of ballot boxes and papers and angry demonstrations by voters that the police quelled using tear gas.
At nearly 28,000 other polling centres voting passed off smoothly, but the ballot was extended for a second day in 36 places after delays that Commonwealth election observers called “inexcusable” and that “seriously detracted from the fairness and credibility of the result.”
European Union election observers yesterday said that “voting was conducted in a calm and peaceful environment in the vast majority of the country”. But the observers also voiced criticism over the “lack of transparency and independence” of the electoral commission.
Besigye, who was arrested during campaigning on Monday and again on Thursday evening, was taken into custody for a third time on Friday.
Police stormed the FDC’s headquarters on Friday to arrest him, saying they wanted to prevent him from unilaterally proclaiming his vote score. “This action severely violates freedom of expression,” the EU mission said, accusing Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement party and government bodies of “creating an intimidating atmosphere.”
Seven candidates ran against Museveni, who is into his seventies, for the presidency of the east African country that he has governed for three decades. Although the incumbent is well ahead in the presidential tally, at least 19 of his ministers lost their parliamentary seats, among them defence minister Crispus Kiyonga—who is spearheading regional efforts to end the political crisis in Burundi—and attorney general Fred Ruhindi.
Kampala police chief Andrew Felix Kaweesi confirmed Besigye was being held on suspicion he was planning to publish his own results, contravening electoral law.

 

Uganda polls

Museveni eyes win

Police surround opposition leader�s home

Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni was poised to win a fifth term yesterday, with the results of most votes cast in the countrys election showing him far ahead of his closest rival, who was under house arrest, reports AFP. With the results of 83 percent of polling stations counted, the veteran leader was on 61 per cent compared to 34 per cent for detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose house was surrounded by dozens of armed police in riot gear. US Secretary of State John Kerry has voiced concern about the election, urging Museveni to rein in his security forces. International observers also raised the red flag, warning that Ugandas electoral commission lacked transparency and accusing the police of heavy-handed treatment of the opposition. Besigyes Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) yesterday released a statement calling on all Ugandans and the international community to reject and condemn the fraud that has been committed. The election on Thursday was disrupted in the capital Kampala by the late arrival of ballot boxes and papers and angry demonstrations by voters that the police quelled using tear gas. At nearly 28,000 other polling centres voting passed off smoothly, but the ballot was extended for a second day in 36 places after delays that Commonwealth election observers called inexcusable and that seriously detracted from the fairness and credibility of the result. European Union election observers yesterday said that voting was conducted in a calm and peaceful environment in the vast majority of the country. But the observers also voiced criticism over the lack of transparency and independence of the electoral commission. Besigye, who was arrested during campaigning on Monday and again on Thursday evening, was taken into custody for a third time on Friday. Police stormed the FDCs headquarters on Friday to arrest him, saying they wanted to prevent him from unilaterally proclaiming his vote score. This action severely violates freedom of expression, the EU mission said, accusing Musevenis ruling National Resistance Movement party and government bodies of creating an intimidating atmosphere. Seven candidates ran against Museveni, who is into his seventies, for the presidency of the east African country that he has governed for three decades. Although the incumbent is well ahead in the presidential tally, at least 19 of his ministers lost their parliamentary seats, among them defence minister Crispus Kiyongawho is spearheading regional efforts to end the political crisis in Burundiand attorney general Fred Ruhindi. Kampala police chief Andrew Felix Kaweesi confirmed Besigye was being held on suspicion he was planning to publish his own results, contravening electoral law.