Reuters: Museveni takes lead in Uganda vote

Museveni takes lead in Uganda vote

Reuters 

Last Updated: Saturday, February 19, 2011, 13:37

Veteran Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni has taken a significant early lead today in the vote count for presidential elections marked by a low turnout and opposition claims of irregularities.

Analysts had originally forecast a closely fought contest. But provisional electoral commission results from about a quarter of all polling stations showed Mr Museveni with 71.5 per cent of the votes counted, and his arch rival Kizza Besigye trailing on 23 per cent.

Ugandans also voted to elect 327 members of parliament, though results are trickling in slowly. 

Opposition frontrunner Mr Besigye, who plans to release a poll tally before the official results, reported "serious problems" during voting yesterday which he said could lead to mass street protests if he tells his supporters the vote was not fair.

Mr Museveni, in power since 1986, says he will arrest Mr Besigye if he tries to start protests while demonstrators will be "bundled" into the courts and jail.

"Revolt? Let him try, let him try, because the hour is here now, and then he will know what it means to revolt," Mr Museveni told reporters late last night at his ranch in Rwakitura.

Mr Besigye, Mr Museveni's field doctor during the war that thrust the 67-year old into power, has said east Africa's third largest economy is ripe for an Egyptian-style uprising as it prepares to pump oil next year.

Mr Besigye has tried and failed to defeat the charismatic leader at the last two elections, although he did erode Mr Museveni's support, leading analysts to expect a closer race this time.

Kampala was calm and quiet early today. But armed police and soldiers were on constant patrol, and standing guard in groups at street corners and at major intersections.

Some European Union observers said the turnout was as low as 30 per cent at many polling stations.