Uganda's Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, Speaker of parliament Edward Ssekandi and the wife of Uganda's president, Janet Museveni, were among the candidates nominated by the ruling party to contest in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Local press reported on Friday that Bukenya was nominated in Busiro North in central region, where he is the incumbent.

Speaker of parliament Edward Ssekandi was nominated for Bukoto Central of Masaka district, also in central region where he faces his critic and former Democratic Party spokesman Jude Mbabali.

First Lady Janet Museveni was nominated to contest against Augustine Ruzindana of the Forum for Democratic Change in Ruhama county, the party's stronghold in the southwestern district of Ntungamo.

These three candidates are the flag bearers of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Several ministers and incumbent members of parliament sailed through, while many who lost in the primaries of especially the ruling NRM were nominated to stand as independents.

Ministers nominated included Minister of Education and Sports Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, Minister of Health Jim Muhwezi, Minister of State for Defense Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of State for Energy Michael Werikhe, Minister of State for Security Betty Akech, Minister of State for Agriculture Kibirige Sebunya , Minister of State for General Duties in the Ministry of Health Mike Mukula, and Minister of State for Internal Affairs Kezimbira Muyingo. All these candidates are also standing on the NRM ticket.

According to the Electoral Commission, more than 1,000 people have picked up nomination forms to contest in the parliamentary elections slated for February 23. The two-day nomination exercise ends on Friday.

There are currently 304 seats at the parliament. These include directly elected members of parliament and representatives of special interest groups that include youths, women, persons with disabilities and army.

Several political parties have fronted their flag bearers, while some are running as independent candidates.

This will be the first multiparty parliamentary elections held in the east African country since multiparty politics was banned in the past 20 years.

Source: Xinhua