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UGANDA: OPINION POLL REFLECTS TIGHT RACE BETWEEN BESIGYE AND MUSEVENI January 6, 2006

(SomaliNet) A lot of pressure has set in between Uganda’s incumbent, Yoweri Museveni and his immediate challenger Col. Kiiza Besigye. An opinion poll carried out recently by an independent poll in Kampala indicates a win by Museveni over Besigye. Ugandans will vote for presidential and parliamentary seats respectively in February this year.

The poll however show that Mr. Museveni would not get over 50% - the amount needed for an outright victory - so a run-off would then be needed. 47% Ugandans said if elections were held the next day they would vote for Mr. Museveni, while close to 32% said they would vote for Dr Besigye. The three other contestants, Miria Obote, Ssebana Kizito, and Abed Bwanika have little chance of wining elections according to the poll.

The Uganda People's Congress Party’s Miria Obote, and widow of the former president, scored close to 5% while former Kampala mayor Ssebana Kizito of the Democratic Party received a similarly low level of support, and only close to 0.1% favored independent candidate Abed Bwanika.

An opinion poll conducted by the state-owned New Vision newspaper in small urban points, published a survey in December when Dr. Besigye was still in prison, reflected a slight win by Dr. Besigye over president Museveni.

The government has criticized Dr Besigye’s release recently from prison where he is facing charges of treason, rape, terrorism and weapons offences by court. His supporters say the charges were designed to prevent him contesting or campaigning in the polls.

Uganda’s Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya asked the Constitutional Court to cancel bail arguing that the High Court did not have the authority to overrule the military court which wanted to keep him behind bars.

51% of Ugandans who responded to the poll however say the elections will not be free and fair.

Exactly seven weeks are remaining for Ugandans to elect a new president in office.