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Government spokesperson: Museveni Victory Deserved

   Peter Clottey  February 20, 2011

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, wearing hat at left, stands
   in  a  queue  as  he  waits  with  other voters to place his ballot in
   Kiruhura district, which is Museveni's home area, at a Polling station
   about  300  Kms  (200 miles) west of Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Feb. 18,
   2011. Millions of Ugandans lined up to vote Friday in the east African
   nation's   presidential  ballot  pitting  the  country's  long-serving
   president against his former ally and personal physician, and with the
   looming  start  of oil production in the country raising the stakes in
   the vote. (AP Photo/ Ronald Kabuubi)

   The  spokesperson  for  Ugandaâs  government said stability, peace and
   improved  service  delivery  was,  in  her words, the trump cards that
   ensured long-time President Yoweri Museveniâs re-election victory in a
   vote the opposition dismissed as a sham.

   Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko, who also won the Bujenje parliamentary seat,
   dismissed   as   ridiculous   opposition  allegations  that  both  the
   presidential and parliamentary election was rigged.

   âThe  people of Uganda appreciate what NRM (ruling National Resistance
   Movement)  has  done  for them. We had a lot of challenges; we had the
   insurgency  in  the  north,  people  are  living in campsâ¦and several
   others.  But,  with internal security in northern Uganda and the whole
   of  Uganda,  I  think  that  contributed  a  lotâ¦the whole country is
   peaceful,â said Masiko.

   âWe  have  also been working as NRM, as government, to ensure that the
   services  reach  the  people.  And,  throughout  Uganda now, there are
   special  programs  for particular places that were marginalized, which
   are  being  focused  on. So, if you put all these together, I think we
   have  earned  our  victory as NRM because of our programs that we have
   had.â

   Ugandan  election  officials  reported Sunday Mr. Museveni won with 68
   percent  of  the  vote  compared  to  26 percent for his archrival and
   former ally, Dr. Kizza Besigye.

   Besigye  dismissed  the  election  as fraudulent. But, Masiko said the
   election was free, fair and transparent.

   âIf  anybody  is  interested in a transparent, peaceful, free and fair
   election,  this  is one of themâ¦however, as much as Besigye says that
   it  was  rigged  the margin was very clear, 68 percent with Besigye 26
   percent,â said Masiko.

   âI  think  they  (opposition) have not come to terms with the results.
   But,  I  know,  in  time, they will settle down and accept the verdict
   that has been handed out by the people of Uganda.â

   She  also  challenged the opposition to, in her words, use the systems
   in Uganda to address their concerns about Fridayâs vote.

   The   victory   extends   Mr.   Museveniâs   rule   in  Uganda  to  30
   years. Besigye had challenged him for a third time.

   Before  Friday's election, Besigye accused the government of trying to
   rig the vote. President Museveni denied the charge.

   Ugandans  also  voted  Friday to elect members of parliament. About 14
   million  Ugandans  were  registered  to  vote  in the presidential and
   parliamentary elections.

   This  is the second election in Uganda since the return of multi-party
   politics.  The  first  was  in  2006  after  a referendum in 2005 that
   returned  the country to multi-party politics and removed presidential
   term limits.

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