The incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Uganda’s presidential election, securing another term in office following the January 15 polls.
The results were announced by the Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, who said Museveni garnered 7,944,772 votes, representing 71.65 per cent of the valid votes cast.
Justice Byabakama said a total of 11,366,201 Ugandans participated in the election, translating into a voter turnout of 52.5 per cent.
Museveni’s closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, received 2,741,238 votes, accounting for 24.72 per cent of the total ballots cast.
The declaration extends Museveni’s long tenure in power and marks his seventh elected term as president.
The next five-year term means the 81-year-old will have led Uganda for a total of 45 years.
The announcement comes amid mixed reactions, with opposition figures disputing the outcome and raising concerns about the conduct of the polls, while the ruling party has welcomed the results as a reflection of the will of the people.
