/ 21 February 2011

African Union observers fault Uganda election

African Union Observers Fault Uganda Election

African Union (AU) election observers say Uganda’s presidential poll suffered from several shortcomings, while two losing candidates are calling for Egypt-style protests.

President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s leader for 25 years, won Friday’s election with 68% of the vote. Top challenger Kizza Besigye won 26%.

The leader of the AU observer mission, Gitobu Imanyara, said Monday on that many voters couldn’t vote due to the poor management of polling centres.

Two of the losing presidential candidates on Monday threatened to mobilise mass protests against the government. Museveni said last week he would jail anyone who tried to spark Egypt-style unrest.

Museveni’s team has denied allegations that the vote wasn’t fair. — Sapa-AP