The Uganda Electoral Commission declared Saturday afternoon that the people of the Republic of Uganda have adopted the multiparty political system.

A statement signed by the chairman of the commission, Badru Kiggundu said according to results received from 99.6 percent of total polling stations, "the YES side having obtained the majority of votes (92.5 percent) in this referendum, the Electoral Commission hereby declares that the people of the Republic of Uganda have adopted the multiparty political system."

The statement said 3,619,998 voters (92.5 percent) backed the multiparty system against only 294,003 voters (7.5 percent) who opposed it.

According to the statement, a total of 4,006,259 people voted on Thursday, 47 percent out of the 8,524,230 registered voters.

The invalid voters was 92,258.

The results of the one-day referendum held on Thursday paved the way for multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections, which will be held in March 2006.

Source: Xinhua