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Uganda: Court validates president’s disputed re-election | Uganda: Court validates president’s disputed re-election |
(about 4 hours later) | |
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s top court dismissed a case that sought to nullify the results of a disputed presidential election, saying the long-time president was validly re-elected. | |
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the cases of noncompliance cited by the petitioner, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, were not substantial enough to warrant an annulment of the vote. | |
The election on February 18 was marred by allegations of vote rigging, delays in delivery of polling materials in some areas, as well as a government shutdown of social media. | The election on February 18 was marred by allegations of vote rigging, delays in delivery of polling materials in some areas, as well as a government shutdown of social media. |
Many observers cited irregularities. The European Union observer mission spoke of an “intimidating atmosphere” mainly created by the government, and said the election commission lacked independence and transparency. | |
President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, won about 60 percent of the vote. His nearest rival, opposition leader Kizza Besigye, got about 35 percent. | |
Besigye, who remains under what police call preventive detention at his home, did not file a legal challenge, saying doing so would “legitimize” what he called a fraudulent election. Besigye instead called for an international audit of the results. Museveni denied allegations of vote fraud. | |
Efforts by Besigye’s party, the Forum for Democratic Change, to gather evidence for a possible court case were repeatedly foiled by the police, with the party alleging harassment of its polling officials across the country. | |
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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