Campaigning Begin In Ugandan Presidential Contest

Campaigning Begin In Ugandan Presidential Contest

Uganda has cleared four candidates including long-serving leader, Yoweri Museveni for next February 's presidential poll seen as a test of democracy.

The election Museveni against his closest rival, Kizza Besigye , who was Museveni's doctor in the bush when he was a rebel leader.

The election will be the third face-off between Museveni and Besigye.

Political objective

Speaking after he received the nomination papers on Monday , Museveni said his dream was to make Uganda a modern country and a first world country, with focus on modernisation of agriculture and industrialisation.

Museveni, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, a former cattle herder and student activist has been in power since 1986, during which time Uganda's economy - third largest in East Africa - has expanded and the discovery of oil has boosted foreign investor interest.

Security beefed up ahead of campaign 

Besigye is the leader of Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), a coalition of four parties that some analysts say could be prone to splits before polling day.

Security has been beefed up as both sides plan election rallies.

Seven candidates in total are expected to secure clearance on Monday and Tuesday but analysts see Besigye as the only one with a chance of beating Museveni.

The poll will be closely watched for signs of repression by Western donors and by foreign investors eyeing the fledgling oil industry.

REUTERS/Williams/Yinka