Teenage girl wins a seat in Uganda's parliament

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - A teenage girl fresh out of high school has won a seat in Uganda's parliament, adding to the ruling party's majority but embarrassing some who say her success lowers expectations of lawmakers in the East African country.

Ms Proscovia Oromait, 19, contested elections deep in eastern Uganda to fill the seat left vacant after her father's death. President Yoweri Museveni's ruling party had been desperate for a win there, having lost seven in eight parliamentary by-elections this year.

The polls are widely seen as a test of Mr Museveni's popularity, and some calculated that she would win with a sympathy vote. The result was Uganda's youngest lawmaker ever - and a boost for Mr Museveni's party.

But some critics say the position is too much responsibility for a young girl.