Museveni wins polls with 5,617,503 votes

President Yoweri Museveni was on Saturday evening declared a winner of the 2016 presidential elections.

Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Badru Kiggundu, announced the results from a contest of 7 men and a woman.  

Museveni, the NRM chairperson polled 5,617,503 votes representing a 60.75% of the 9.2 million votes cast.

"The Electoral Commission declares Yoweri Kaguta Museveni elected President of the Republic of Uganda on the presidential elections held on February 18, 2016," Kiggundu announced.

FDC's Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, a retired army Colonel received 3,270,290 votes representing a 35.3%.

Former Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, came third with 132,574 votes a 1.4% and Dr. Abed Bwanika followed with 0.93% of votes cast.

Other contestants included former Makerere University vice chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureba (0.5%), Maureen Kyalya (0.4%), Maj. Gen. Benon Biraro (0.27%) and Joseph Mabirizi (0.26%).

With 15,277,198 registered voters, the 9.2 million voters who turned up for presidential elections represent 63% voter turnout.

The 2016 presidential election has been the most competitive since 2006 when Museveni, for the first time since 1996, saw his support dip below 60% of the votes cast.

The results show an improvement of Besigye by 9.3% from the 2011 polls, with his resurgence in all regions of the country significantly pushing his figures up.

NRM Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba, attributed the victory to "improved service delivery and security."

"In the next five years, government will make issues concerning youths such as creating employment take center stage. We shall retrain graduates yet to be absorbed in the job market and through microfinance help those interested in starting their own jobs," Lumumba said.

Museveni's fresh term which is expected to come to a close in May 2021 will push his presidency to 35 years.