Ugandans voted today in their first multi-party election for 25 years with President Yoweri Museveni aiming to extend his two-decade rule.
The former rebel commander (62) has led in polls but faces a strong challenge from his former physician, Kizza Besigye (49), who has firm backing from the young and those in cities.
Western donors, who once hailed Mr Museveni as the foremost of a "new breed" of African leaders, are disappointed he is standing for a third term and angry at the brief jailing of Mr Besigye and his ongoing trials on rape and treason charges.
Ugandans hope whoever wins will be able to end a vicious war in the north, where Lord's Resistance Army rebels have terrorised locals for 20 years, and improve their economic lot in a nation where most live on less than a dollar a day.
A trickle of voters gathered at dawn as polls opened at 7am. They are to close at 5pm, with results due by Saturday.
After sporadic violence during the campaign, thousands of police and soldiers were deployed to keep the peace.