The United States Department has called for independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into reports of irregularities in Uganda's general election held on Thursday last week.

Recall that longest-serving President Yoweri Museveni, 76, was declared winner with 58.6 per cent of the votes securing a sixth term amid election fraud accusations by his rival, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

Museveni won with 5,851,037 of the nearly 10 million votes cast while musician turned politician Bobi Wine came second with 3,475,298, 34.83% of the total votes. 

The election was marred with reports of rigging, late delivery of voting materials, and insufficient material at numerous polling locations amidst a government ordered internet shut down. 

Read Also: BOBI WINE REJECTS UGANDA ELECTION RESULTS, DECLARES HIMSELF WINNER

Bobi Wine, who after the polls declared himself winner, accused the electoral commission of rigging the election in favour of the incumbent president, a claim the commission has strongly denied.

Reacting to the accusations, the president said the poll could be the “most cheating-free” in the history of the African nation.

In a statement, the US State Department said those found culpable of election irregularities should be held accountable.

“We strongly urge independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into these reports and that those responsible be held accountable,” the statement read in part.

Its spokesman Morgan Ortagus also condemned “the continuing attacks on political candidates” saying, "we urge the government to respect their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression. We are gravely concerned by harassment of and continued threats to civil society."

Read Also: BREAKING: UGANDAN PRESIDENT YOUWERI MUSEVENI DECLARED WINNER IN ELECTION RIVAL SAY WAS RIGGED

Bobi Wine on Sunday claimed that he had been placed under house arrest as military men surrounded his home.

“It’s now four days since the military surrounded our home and placed my wife and I under house arrest. We have run out of food supplies and when my wife tried to pick food from the garden yesterday, she was blocked and assaulted by the soldiers staged in our compound,” Wine stated on Twitter.

But the Ugandan authorities stated that the military presence around his home is intended to offer him security.

Bobi wine's campaigns were marred with widespread violence orchestrated by Ugandan police towards his supporters and campaign team with authorities claiming that they were enforcing Covid-19 guidelines.

Ugandan authorities also in an unprecedented move, shut down the internet in the country hours to the Jan.14 polls, a move that has been widely criticized.

"We call upon the Government of Uganda to respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, and to hold accountable members of the security forces responsible for violence and abuses,” the Department Spokesperson said.

Museveni is one of the world's longest-serving leaders and has been in the top job since seizing control in 1986 when he helped to end years of tyranny under Idi Amin and Milton Obote.

Follow us on Twitter and get the most exclusive of news as it breaks.