Ugandan election campaign begins

Campaigning has begun in the Ugandan presidential elections which are due by mid-March.

Four contenders were officially nominated, including the man expected to present the strongest challenge so far to President Yoweri Museveni -- Kisa Besigye, a retired colonel and former minister once close to Mr Museveni.

A BBC correspondent says there was a huge turnout and great excitement at the rally where Colonel Besigye launched his campaign.

Our correspondent says the colonel's popularity appears to stem from his promises to tackle corruption, reform the economy and his criticism of militaristic solutions to regional problems. President Museveni, who has introduced a non-party political system since winning power in 1985, is expected to announced his candidacy for a final term on Tuesday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service