Yoweri Museveni, who was reelected as Uganda’s president extending his three decades in power, deserves credit for his positive contributions. He brought democratic reformation to a country which had reeled under the heinous dictatorship of Idi Amin, stability and order where chaos prevailed once, and finally, he brought a degree of economic security and social progress when the country had lost hope. But his reelection hasn’t been viewed with enthusiasm by the international community. The opposition has accused him of poll rigging and the international observers have raised concerns over the conduct of the polls, saying that the electoral commission lacked transparency. Museveni was declared a winner with 60 percent of the vote on Saturday, far ahead of the 35 percent won by the detained opposition chief Kizza Besigye. The president has grabbed at a fifth consecutive term at the age of 71.
Besigye’s house was surrounded by police in riot gear as the election results were announced. Besigye, who was arrested three times in the past week and whose party headquarters was stormed on Friday by the police, has slammed the results as a fraud and appealed to the international community not to recognise them. “The opposition are not leaders, they are just demagogues, liars, just talking, talking,” the 71-year-old Museveni declared, celebrating his victory with a walk with his beloved cows. The US criticised irregularities in the vote, which it said was “deeply inconsistent with international standards and expectations for any democratic process”.
There is a possibility that the country will descend into chaos if the opposition persists with protests, but the situation in 2011, when protests after the presidential election produced a violent security crackdown, is unlikely to be repeated. Museveni enjoys wider support now, especially in rural areas where 80 percent of Ugandans live, and given the extensive state security apparatus, the opposition may not have the strength to challenge the government on the streets. But Besigye too is adamant. Addressing a rally in eastern Uganda last month, he said his Forum for Democratic Change party would continue to challenge Museveni’s presidency for life.
Museveni will be setting a poor example for African democracy if he clings to power all his life. He needs to create a roadmap for his country to take it forward, give greater freedom to opposition parties and listen to the advice of the international community to win their support for the country’s development. But some African rulers don’t listen to advice. They have a way of keeping themselves in power as long as they want, as the rest of the continent and the world looks on helplessly.
Yoweri Museveni, who was reelected as Uganda’s president extending his three decades in power, deserves credit for his positive contributions. He brought democratic reformation to a country which had reeled under the heinous dictatorship of Idi Amin, stability and order where chaos prevailed once, and finally, he brought a degree of economic security and social progress when the country had lost hope. But his reelection hasn’t been viewed with enthusiasm by the international community. The opposition has accused him of poll rigging and the international observers have raised concerns over the conduct of the polls, saying that the electoral commission lacked transparency. Museveni was declared a winner with 60 percent of the vote on Saturday, far ahead of the 35 percent won by the detained opposition chief Kizza Besigye. The president has grabbed at a fifth consecutive term at the age of 71.
Besigye’s house was surrounded by police in riot gear as the election results were announced. Besigye, who was arrested three times in the past week and whose party headquarters was stormed on Friday by the police, has slammed the results as a fraud and appealed to the international community not to recognise them. “The opposition are not leaders, they are just demagogues, liars, just talking, talking,” the 71-year-old Museveni declared, celebrating his victory with a walk with his beloved cows. The US criticised irregularities in the vote, which it said was “deeply inconsistent with international standards and expectations for any democratic process”.
There is a possibility that the country will descend into chaos if the opposition persists with protests, but the situation in 2011, when protests after the presidential election produced a violent security crackdown, is unlikely to be repeated. Museveni enjoys wider support now, especially in rural areas where 80 percent of Ugandans live, and given the extensive state security apparatus, the opposition may not have the strength to challenge the government on the streets. But Besigye too is adamant. Addressing a rally in eastern Uganda last month, he said his Forum for Democratic Change party would continue to challenge Museveni’s presidency for life.
Museveni will be setting a poor example for African democracy if he clings to power all his life. He needs to create a roadmap for his country to take it forward, give greater freedom to opposition parties and listen to the advice of the international community to win their support for the country’s development. But some African rulers don’t listen to advice. They have a way of keeping themselves in power as long as they want, as the rest of the continent and the world looks on helplessly.
