Uganda court validates disputed re-election

Children run past an electoral poster of President Yoweri Museveni

Uganda's top court has dismissed a case that sought to nullify the results of a disputed presidential election, saying the president was validly re-elected.

The Supreme Court said on Thursday the cases of non-compliance 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 shut-down of social media.


Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, won with more than 60% of the vote.

His closest rival, opposition leader Kizza Besigye, described the election as a fraud and called for an international audit of the results.

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