Ugandans begin voting
2006-02-23 14:10
Kampala - Polls opened in Uganda's first multi-party elections in 26 years on Thursday, with a massive nationwide security deployment after a campaign fraught with tension, said reports.
They said that nearly 20 000 polling stations opened at 07:00 for the East African nation's 10.4 million eligible voters to cast ballots for president and a 310-member parliament.
Voting was to close at 17:00 with results due by Saturday in races dominated by the battle for the presidency between incumbent Yoweri Museveni and his main challenger, opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Security forces
In the capital, early turn-out appeared light with few lines at polling stations in densely populated southwestern Kampala although electoral workers and security forces scurried to make last-minute preparations.
Kampala voter Mitala Kaddu said: "We wanted to come early so we are not caught up in the confusion that will come when very many people are rushing to vote."
Minor delays were reported in some quarters and at one centre, several people in a small queue of about 20 grumbled that the polls had not opened promptly, despite appeals from authorities to cast ballots early.
New five-year mandate
Diplomats and rights groups had warned of unrest and the national election board appealed for calm in the process that many believed would see Museveni extend his 20-year hold on power with a new five-year mandate.
The president was widely expected to overcome a spirited challenge from Besigye, his former personal physician who was now his archrival.
In addition to active-duty police and military, the government had deployed 12 000 army reserves to ensure security, despite charges from the opposition that the heavy presence would be used to intimidate voters.
The campaign, which ended on Tuesday, was punctuated by sporadic violence between opposition supporters and security forces.