海角大神

Ugandan presidential challenger Bobi Wine on Monday launched a court case seeking to overturn the re-election of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for 35 years.

Mr. Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, had suggested he did not want to legitimize Mr. Museveni鈥檚 victory in last month鈥檚 polls by seeking justice with a court that has been reluctant to rule against the president in past elections. The Supreme Court ruled three times that electoral irregularities were not substantial enough to affect the outcome.

Mr. Museveni won the Jan. 14 elections with 58% of the vote, while Mr. Wine had 35%, according to final results announced last week by the electoral commission after accounting for results from nearly all polling stations.

Mr. Wine has accused electoral authorities of declaring 鈥渃ooked-up results,鈥� alleging irregularities such as soldiers stuffing ballot boxes, casting ballots for people, and chasing voters away from polling stations across the East African country. He has urged his supporters to protest his loss through nonviolent means.

Despite the assertions of fraud, Mr. Wine鈥檚 National Unity Platform party was not always sure that going to court was the right move. Some members said it was 鈥渁 total waste of time鈥� while others argued that it was necessary 鈥渢o expose Museveni and put the judiciary on trial,鈥� said Joel Ssenyonyi, a spokesman for Mr. Wine.

It was not immediately clear when courtroom arguments will begin.

Anthony Wameli, a Ugandan attorney who is part of Mr. Wine鈥檚 legal team, said they had amassed 鈥済laring evidence鈥� of malfeasance and would 鈥渄issect the voter register鈥� in trying to prove that Mr. Museveni鈥檚 victory is invalid. But he cited challenges such as harassment by state agents he accused of detaining over 1,000 of Mr. Wine鈥檚 supporters before and after the elections.

鈥淲e are doing everything in hiding,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are going to seek witness protection.鈥�

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr. Wine highlighted the case of a missing man he said was among many victims of alleged abductions.

鈥淐ountless Ugandans have been abducted and taken to unknown places,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose who are lucky to return speak of horrifying stories of torture.鈥�

Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, an independent analyst who is a prominent rights attorney in Uganda, said he believes Mr. Wine will find it hard to convince the panel of judges to annul Mr. Museveni鈥檚 victory even if there is strong evidence.

鈥淭he only problem is the judges,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he judges want stability. They know that if they annul an election it can cause a coup or it can cause instability. That鈥檚 what they fear.鈥�

Mr. Museveni has dismissed allegations of voter fraud.

Uganda鈥檚 elections were marred by violence ahead of polling day as well as an internet shutdown that remained in force until four days after the vote. Social media sites remain restricted.

Police surrounded Mr. Wine鈥檚 home for days after the elections, with authorities citing an urgent need to prevent him from leading protests. They withdrew from Mr. Wine鈥檚 residence last week after a judge ruled that Mr. Wine鈥檚 home is not a detention facility.

The United States and the European Union have noted concerns about Uganda鈥檚 elections. Natalie E. Brown, the U.S. ambassador, in a statement last week cited 鈥渄eep and continuing concern about the extrajudicial detention of opposition political party members, the reported disappearance of several opposition supporters, and continued restrictions on the [National Unity Platform鈥檚] operations.鈥�

A popular singer before he won a seat in Uganda鈥檚 parliament, Mr. Wine has emerged as the country鈥檚 most powerful opposition figure. Mr. Wine has captured the imagination of many at home and abroad in his generational clash with Mr. Museveni. He has repeatedly called for the retirement of Mr. Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security who accuses Mr. Wine of being a foreign agent. Mr. Wine denies the allegation.

Mr. Museveni was able to run again after lawmakers removed the last constitutional barrier 鈥� an age limit 鈥� to what some see as a possible life presidency for the leader.

Uganda has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1962 鈥� one reason why even some within Mr. Museveni鈥檚 party urge him to preside over an orderly transition.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.