Ugandans vote in presidential election

Ugandans voted Friday in a presidential election that the term of the incumbent, who is in power 25 years could be extended.

A new term would become President Yoweri Museveni further five years.

This is the third consecutive time the opposition front-runner Kizza Besigye has run against the incumbent.

The candidate - a former doctor for Museveni - lost presidential bids in 2001 and 2006.

A total of eight presidential candidates, said Margaret Wokuri, a spokeswoman for the opposition Inter-party cooperation.

Besigye's party said it expected because, an accusation the government has dismissed as trying to undermine the vote.

"We plan to have our own tally and release it in 24 hours," said Wokuri. "We can not trust an electoral commission was appointed by the ruling party. We have our own control mechanism."

Museveni, the leader of the National Resistance Movement party led the country since he was a rebel group in line with the government overthrown in 1986.

He was once praised for stabilizing and Uganda to help combat the AIDS epidemic, but has faced mounting criticism over corruption and lack of political transition in the country.

Parliament removed presidential term limits in the East African country six years ago, which essentially established the office of unlimited duration.

Approximately 14 million people are registered to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections.