UGANDA 2016: RUSSIA GIVES PRAISE, EU AND U.S. CRY FOUL
Yoweri Museveni triumphed in Uganda’s presidential elections on Thursday, prompting a range of reactions from the international community.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, won 60.8 percent of the vote , ahead of main rival Kizza Besigye on 35.4 percent in a highly contentious election. The day was marred by a social media blackout and seven-hour delays in ballots being delivered to some polling stations.
The prospect of another five years of Museveni’s rule will be pleasing to some: Uganda has enjoyed steady economic development under the 71-year-old, averaging 7 percent GDP growth throughout the 1990s and 2000s. For others, however, it heralds the continuation of human rights abuses by pro-government security forces: Uganda’s police force has been accused of torture and arbitrary arrests of opposition activists, although they have repeatedly denied such allegations.
![[Image: yoweri-museveni-supporters-celebrate-his...mpala..jpg]](http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/lg/public/2016/02/22/yoweri-museveni-supporters-celebrate-his-election-victory-kampala..jpg)
Yoweri Museveni triumphed in Uganda’s presidential elections on Thursday, prompting a range of reactions from the international community.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, won 60.8 percent of the vote , ahead of main rival Kizza Besigye on 35.4 percent in a highly contentious election. The day was marred by a social media blackout and seven-hour delays in ballots being delivered to some polling stations.
The prospect of another five years of Museveni’s rule will be pleasing to some: Uganda has enjoyed steady economic development under the 71-year-old, averaging 7 percent GDP growth throughout the 1990s and 2000s. For others, however, it heralds the continuation of human rights abuses by pro-government security forces: Uganda’s police force has been accused of torture and arbitrary arrests of opposition activists, although they have repeatedly denied such allegations.