KAMPALA: Veteran Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held a commanding lead in early presidential election results announced on Friday as conflicting accounts emerged of violence reported after the vote.
Museveni, who is 81 and has ruled Uganda since seizing power in 1986, wants a decisive victory following a campaign marred by violence at opposition rallies.
Results announced by the electoral commission from Thursday’s election showed Museveni with 76.25 percent of the vote based on tallies from nearly half of polling stations. His main challenger, popular singer Bobi Wine, trailed with 19.85 percent and the remaining votes were split among six other candidates.
Museveni had told reporters after casting his ballot on Thursday that he expected to win with 80 percent of the vote “if there’s no cheating.”
Wine alleged mass fraud during the election, which was held under an Internet blackout that authorities said was needed to prevent “misinformation,” and called on supporters to protest.
