The African Union (AU) Observer Team has said Uganda's February 23 polls were conducted in a calm and peaceful manner despite some irregularities, local media reported on Monday.

Releasing their report here on Sunday, the AU Observer Team said it is impressed with the massive turn-up of voters during the just-concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in the east African country.

Leader of the AU team Victor Tonchi said "participation rates in certain polling stations averaged more than 60 percent of registered voters."

The team visited and observed the voting process in over 100 polling stations in five districts outside Kampala, where they paid attention to particular aspects of the electoral process, like delivery and handling of electoral materials, counting of votes, voter participation and security.

"The AU team wishes to congratulate the Electoral Commission for the well organized and executed elections, political parties for mature contestation and Ugandans for responsible participation, " he said.

Uganda on Thursday held the first multiparty elections after 26 years. President Yoweri Museveni, who is leader of the ruling National Resistance Movement, won the presidential election with 59.28 percent of the votes while his main rival Kizza Besigye got 37.36 percent of the votes.

Source: Xinhua