See also: » 15.03.2011 - Uganda opposition wins Kampala mayor vote » 08.02.2011 - Uganda President's campaign "still soft-handed" » 07.02.2011 - Rough election climate emerges in Uganda » 02.03.2010 - Reject anti-gay bill - activists » 14.01.2010 - Museveni distances himself from anti gay bill » 23.10.2009 - Uganda must pursue peace and unity - Mwesigwa » 16.10.2009 - Arrest Al Bashir - ICC » 25.09.2009 - Ugandan editors charged with sedition Houlihan's coupons

Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no: Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares

Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no: Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike

President Yoweri Museveni concluding his election campaign

© NRM/afrol News

afrol News, 20 February - With 98 percent of the votes already counted, Uganda's Electoral Commission can already conclude on a large victory for President Yoweri Museveni. But will the opposition accept defeat?

The Electoral Commission of Uganda - earlier criticised by opposition leader Kizza Besigye of being an instrument of President Museveni - in a seemingly transparent way has been publishing results from Uganda's 24,000 polling stations as they have been counted; including on its website.

With 97.7 percent of the votes counted, there is no longer a question of what the official result will be. Currently, President Museveni is leading the poll with 68.3 percent of votes cast. Opposition leader Besigye has obtained 26.1 percent of the votes counted.

President Museveni's almost landslide victory and re-election cannot be refuted, at least if the preliminary official results are to be believed.

The 2011 presidential elections so far have been among the most peaceful ever held in Uganda, despite opposition threats to launch an Egypt-like revolt if the vote was manipulated.

President Museveni, in power for 25 years, during the election campaign has shown muzzles, but mainly resorted to positive campaigning, including a wide diffusion of his own rap song. Bullying and intimidation of Ugandan voters - a normal practice in the country - reportedly has been far less than during other election campaigns.

But there are concerns that the aftermath of the elections may be less peaceful. The opposition, quoting long experience with unfair and unfree elections, for months has been building on its case that the Electoral

Opposition leader Kizza Besigye campaigning in rural Uganda

© Besigye campaign/afrol News

Commission will manipulate the results.

Only last week, an opposition delegation finally was able to present its demands to Commission Chairman Badru Kiggundu; including a wider participation of local candidates in the poll count and the publishing of results. All demands were rejected, and the Besigye campaign again made a point of the Commission "laying grounds for cheating."

The Uganda-based Democracy Monitoring Group, which has monitored both the campaigning period and the actual poll, has registered several irregularities, including voter intimidation and ballots pre-marked for President Museveni. But the group's assessment so far is milder than at previous occasions.

As the results started ticking in yesterday, the Besigye campaign first started publishing the Electoral Commission's results. But they soon stopped as President Museveni's lead was becoming clearer.

So far, Mr Besigye has made few public statements since it became clear that official results would confirm President Museveni in office. He has however vaguely rejected the official results, saying "it is now clear the will of the people cannot be expressed through the electoral process."

The opposition leader has threatened to start an Egypt-like revolt in Uganda if the vote again was manipulated. President Museveni, on the other hand, has promised not to allow such a protest movement. So far, Mr Besigye is keeping his options open.

By staff writers

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda

Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda. Read more

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding" afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries. Read more

Guinea

Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries. Read more