Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has taken part in his first televised debate on Saturday February 13, 2016 ahead of elections on Thursday Feb 18,2016
This is the third multi-party election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 2005
There are no term limits on presidential candidates in Uganda
Ugandans will vote in parliamentary and local elections on the same day.
For the first time, Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Movement will face two strong opponents.They are Kizza Besigye, the veteran opposition leader, and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and close ally of the president.
Kizza Besigye leads the Forum for Democratic Change and Amama Mbabazi is running as an independent with the GoForward pressure group.
Yoweri Museveni snubbed Uganda's first pre-election debate last month, saying such events were for schoolchildren.
The Ugandan leader, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule by winning a fifth term in government.
The focus of the second debate on Saturday Feb 13,2016 was foreign policy and national security - considered to be Mr Museveni's strongest points.
The first debate Friday January 15, 2016 focused on domestic issues such as health and education.
Uganda Goes to Polls today Thursday February 18,2016
People across Uganda have begun voting in presidential elections, with
incumbent Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his 30-year rule.
Yoweri Museveni(71)has been in office since winning a five-year guerrilla war
in 1986, and he is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders
Seven opposition candidates are taking part in the race - widely seen as the tightest in the country's history.
Yoweri Museveni's two main challengers are veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.
Kizza Besigye has unsuccessfully challenged his former comrade-in-arms in the last three presidential elections
Amama Mbabazi is another former ally of President Museveni. He served as prime
minister in 2011-2014, when he was dismissed after announcing he would
launch a rival presidential bid.
Polls opened at 04:00 GMT on Thursday. More than 15 million people are eligible to cast their ballots.
A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.
Major issues for voters also include persistently high unemployment and poor quality of public services.
Ugandans are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.
Seven opposition candidates are taking part in the race - widely seen as the tightest in the country's history.
Yoweri Museveni's two main challengers are veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.
Polls opened at 04:00 GMT on Thursday. More than 15 million people are eligible to cast their ballots.
A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.
Major issues for voters also include persistently high unemployment and poor quality of public services.
Ugandans are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.
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