Museveni takes early lead in Ugandan poll

President Yoweri Museveni has taken an early lead in Uganda’s presidential election adjudged to be the most keenly watched in the country for years.

With only a quarter of the votes counted, Museveni had taken more than 60 percent of the tallied ballots, leading his main rival, the pop star-turned-politician Bobe Wine.

The opposition leaders, though, have condemned the results announced so far, claiming it was marred by fraud and violence.

Wine within the last few weeks has galvanised a mass movement of young people across the country challenging the president’s 34-year rule.

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He is one of the 10 opposition candidates challenging Museveni, but had gained about a quarter of the vote.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Wine dismissed the results announced by Uganda’s electoral body, claiming there had been widespread vote rigging. He had earlier claimed there was fraud and violence at the polls.

“Despite the widespread fraud and violence experienced across the country earlier today, the picture still looks good. Thank you Uganda for turning up and voting in record numbers,” he said in a statement posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

Results are expected to be announced by Saturday. A candidate must win more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff vote.