At least 15 million Ugandans today go to polls to elect the nation’s next president and members of parliament. 

Attention is on the presidential race with three of the eight candidates being considered as top contenders for the country’s top job, the incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, his erstwhile personal physicial Dr Kizza Besigye, and former prime minister Amama Mbabazi.

Other candidates in the presidential race are Prof. Vanensius Baryamureeba, Maj Gen (rtd) Benon Biraro, Abed Bwanika, Joseph Mabirizi, and Maureen Kyalya – the latter the only woman candidate.

Uganda’s electoral commission officials yesterday told reporters that all was set for the exercise with polls expected to open at 7am EATand close at 4pm giving way to vote counting.

Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is the favourite to win the hotly contested race and continue his leadership in a country that lifted president term limits in 2005.

Thepresidential elections come after about three months of intensive campaigns by aspirants with each of them making efforts that they are best suited for the job.

The campaigns, which ended on Wednesday, were largely peaceful.

The electoral commission officials said the results of the presidential election would be announced by 4pm on Saturday.

Multiple organisations have dispatched teams of observers to Uganda ahead of the elections, including Common Wealth nations, African Union, East African Community among others.

As Uganda heads to the polls, a number of international organisations have called on citizens of the country to remain peaceful and to avoid engaging in conduct that could disrupt the stability of the country.

Speaking ahead of the elections, the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Olusegun Obasanjo, expressed hope that the country’s people will enjoy a peaceful and credible election.

"All stakeholders, including party candidates and supporters, election officials, police and security forces, should play their part in ensuring voters are free to express their preference at the ballot box and the election is conducted peacefully, without resort to intimidation or violence,” Obasanjo said.

Security officials ranging from regular to military personnel have been deployed all across the country during the electoral period to maintain peace.

Opinion polls conducted in the build up to the elections have put Museveni ahead of other contenders with Besigye following closely.

Uganda being a key component of the East African Region and part of several integration initiatives, the election has been closely followed by citizens of the region.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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THE PROTAGONISTS

Yoweri Museveni

The incumbent, 72, has been in power since January 1986 when his NRA guerillas captured Kampala. Museveni is credited with restoring peace and stability. After serving two elective terms, Museveni‘s government amended the constitution to scrap presidential term limits. The incumbent has run his manifesto on a promise to focus on wealth creation in the next five years.

Dr Kizza Besigye

The opposition leader is challenging Museveni for the fourth time after losing the last three elections. Formerly Museveni’s personal doctor during the bush war, Dr Besigye fell out with the establishment in 1999 and started his protracted opposition to Museveni’s government. He has run his campaign with a message for defiance and demand for change in leadership.

Amama Mbabazi

The 67-year-old was the 10th prime minister of Uganda and served in various other capacities in Museveni’s government until his sacking in 2013. Mbabazi, hitherto seen as Museveni’s right-hand man, was also part of the NRA liberation war, but was among the elites who operated clandestine activities in towns. A lawyer by profession, this is Mbabazi’s first shot at presidency.