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Ugandan polls open in election likely to see Museveni re-elected

Other News Materials 18 February 2011 08:21 (UTC +04:00)
Polls opened in Uganda early Friday in presidential and parliamentary polls expected to see long-term leader Yoweri Museveni retain control of the East African nation, dpa reported.
Ugandan polls open in election likely to see Museveni re-elected

Polls opened in Uganda early Friday in presidential and parliamentary polls expected to see long-term leader Yoweri Museveni retain control of the East African nation, dpa reported.

Analysts cite a weak and divided opposition and a pro-government electoral body, which they say seems ready to favour the incumbent, as reasons for the president's near-certain victory.

Of the eight candidates standing, Kizza Besigye, runner-up in 2006, is considered the president's only real challenger - although opinion polls have shown he is trailing far behind Museveni.

Besigye, 54, who was Museveni's personal doctor during the 1981-86 rebellion the president led, heads a coalition of small parties, and has threatened possibly violent protests should the election be rigged.

A small landlocked state lying along the equator, Uganda has had its share of political turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1962 and has been ruled by eight heads of state, including one of the world's worst dictators - the late general Idi Amin.

Museveni has garnered praise for pulling Uganda out of the abyss it was in by January 1986, when he gunned his way to power.

Democratic elections have been held on time for the past 15 years, the economy has been growing at an average 6 per cent and millions of children attend school because of free primary education.

But critics say Museveni's World Bank- and International Monetary Fund-inspired economic reforms widened the gap between the few rich and the majority poor, and that the president has reserved key posts in government, military and businesses for his Banyankore tribesmen.

The stakes are higher this time around as Uganda is believed to be sitting on about 2.5 billion barrels of oil, according to London- based Tullow Oil Plc, which is expected to start pumping oil and gas next year.

It is not clear how the oil profits will be divided between Tullow and the government, leading some to fear the lack of transparency could mean the misappropriation of funds by whoever is in power.

Some 13.9 million people are registered to vote in the polls, which opened at 7am (0400 GMT) and are set to close at 5pm.

Provisional results could begin coming out as early as Friday evening, the electoral commission said.

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