Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

Opinion poll places Museveni in the lead

December 20th, 2015 1 min read

By DAVID KWALIMWA

President Yoweri Museveni is on course to win Uganda’s presidential elections next year, according to the findings of an opinion poll conducted by Infotrack Research and Consulting firm.

The opinion poll, which interviewed 1,500 people selected randomly across all the regions in the country from 48 of the 112 districts in early December indicate that the incumbent – who is seeking a fifth term in office – would have garnered 59.9 percent of the total votes cast, if the presidential election had been held between December 6-9.

The same poll gives Museveni’s closest challenger, Dr Kiiza Besigye a 20.9 percent rating followed by Mr Amama Mbabazi at 5.9 percent, according to a report in the Daily Monitor.

According to Ugandan law, a Presidential aspirant must garner 50 percent plus 1 votes to win the Presidency.

Besigye has meanwhile dismissed the findings of the poll.

“I have seen some newspapers saying that Mr Museveni has 59.9 per cent of votes; even if it is 30 per cent, can he get it in this Uganda? I doubt!” Besigye said.

There are 15 million registered voters in Uganda.