Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential aspirant Dr Warren Kizza Besigye has lashed out at the Monitor newspaper for publishing a poll showing that candidate Museveni was leading.
According to the poll results carried in the Daily Monitor newspaper of December 18, 2015, candidate Museveni commands a 59.9 per cent lead, something Dr Besigye, who was rated at 20 per cent, vehemently disputes.
‘That poll, to my knowledge, is rubbish’, Dr Besigye said adding: “Museveni is a hopeless minority at the moment in terms of popular support. The Aga Khan is burying his paper,’ he wrote adding: “Managing the media’ through doctored polls will not solve Museveni’s unpopularity problem this time.”
He further said that the poll results are ‘made up’ and that those carrying out polls are being escorted by government officials.
This is the second time in less than a year that the Daily Monitor has come under fire from the opposition over polls indicating that Mr Museveni was the leading candidate for the 2016 elections.
Early this year global market research firm Ipsos carried out a poll commissioned by The Daily Monitor and results showed that if elections were held then candidate Museveni would emerge winner with 57 per cent of the vote, prompting vitriol from the opposition.
However, Daily Monitor management contends with the poll results. The paper through its Nairobi parent company, Nation Media Group sourced Infotrak to conduct the research.
President Museveni who also the poll revealed that would win with 60 per cent, yesterday rejected results of the same opinion poll. Museveni instead says he will win with 80 per cent as contrary to the 60 per cent if elections had been held between December 6-9.
Infotrak, conducted the research between December 6-9 and found that out of 1,500 voters sampled, 59.9 per cent indicated they would back Mr Museveni’s bid for a fifth term-with the FDC flag bearer, Dr Kizza Besigye coming second with 20.9 per cent support.
