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Uganda's general elections kick off

Xinhua, February 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Millions of Ugandans on Thursday queued to vote to elect the east African country's new president and legislators, amid tight security across the country.

In the capital Kampala, people were waiting to cast their vote in the much anticipated election that kicked off voting at 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT). Over 15.2 million voters are expected to cast their votes, according to the country's Electoral Commission.

Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power for over 30 years is facing off with two main rivals -- Amama Mbabazi, former prime minister and Kizza Besigye of the main opposition party Forum for the Democratic Change.

Different opinion polls have ranked Mbabazi third after Museveni and Besigye. There are also five other presidential candidates.

For the first time, a bio-metric identifying system, considered more effective in combating fraud, will be used in this year's election.

Although voters will be expected to present their National Identity Cards, those who do not have them but are on the national voters register will be allowed to vote, according to the Electoral Commission. Voters can only vote at the polling stations where they are registered. Endi