Lungu Congratulates Ugandan President Museveni

President Edgar Lungu has congratulated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on his victory in the country’s presidential elections last week.

President Lungu said Museveni’s win showed the people of Uganda had great confidence and trust in him, and said he looked forward to continuing the cordial relationship between Zambia and Uganda. 

President Museveni was elected to a sixth term in office last Thursday, following a campaign marred by violence and fraud. His closest rival, Bobi Wine, has said he fears for his life and the lives of his family after his home was repeatedly raided by security services.

Election monitors have also cast doubt over the validity of the results after the government shut down the country’s internet a day before polling was due to start. 

Africa Elections Watch, which had 3,000 election observers in Uganda, said the vote did not “meet the threshold of a democratic, free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process”. The EU and United Nations have also raised concerns. 

Nevertheless, the 76-year-old Museveni has rejected claims of voter fraud, describing the election as “the most cheating-free election” in Uganda’s history. 

Opposition candidate Bobi Wine continues to dispute the results and claims to have video evidence proving widespread voter fraud. He is currently confined to his home by riot police and soldiers.