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Former Uganda President is Re-elected

Yoweri Museveni was elected president in Uganda’s first multiparty election in 25 years on Saturday, with plans to build up infrastructure, industrialize in order to promote employment and to commercialize Uganda’s agricultural sector. Runner up Kizza Besigye called the election “illegal” according to the Washington Post.

Museveni has been president for the past 20 years and won 59 percent of the votes while Besigye won 37 percent. Besigye was not satisfied with the results. Museveni told the Washington Post that “The only people who can change that [the results] would be the courts. They [the Forum for Democratic Change] are spoiling their record. They should be calm and obey the democratic voice of the people of Uganda.”

Besigye and his advisors maintain that the results from last Thursday’s election showed that he had 49 percent and that Museveni had 47 percent. No action has been taken in regard to Besigye’s claim; however, the Forum for Democratic Change is looking into the situation.

Some problems Museveni faces in Uganda include low electricity supply which causes frequent blackouts, slow businesses and slow economic growth. His major challenge will be to convince the people that he is not becoming a dictator, as some people have suspected. He was accused of trying to seek life presidency by attempting to change the constitution, which would allow him to have a third term, according to allafrica.com.

“Even after 20 years in the job there is still more to do,” Museveni told cnn.com. “I don’t think what we have done is enough. I think it’s simply a beginning.”

CNN.com explained that Museveni came into power in 1986 after a coup which left the country in terrible shape. During his first presidency he sought to enforce stability and to build the economy. However, Busigye believes Museveni’s time is up and described him as “somebody who abandoned the cause.”

Charles Mubbale, the Ugandan director for Transparency International, agrees and told the Washington Post that “There are thousands in his [Museveni] military and government now who just won’t leave power and it’s not healthy for the country.”