The Ugandan government has announced that the multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on March 12, 2006 and the new multiparty government sworn in on May 12, local press reported on Friday.

Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya made the announcement in his ministerial statement to the parliament on Thursday on "the implications of the referendum on change of political system and the political transition."

The statement said that the government would make amendments in the Movement Act, keeping in line with the Constitution amended to reduce the term of the organs of the Movement from July 2, 2006 to March 12.

Makubuya read out six laws to be amended quickly by the parliament. The six laws include the presidential elections act, the parliamentary elections act, the local governments act, the electoral commission act, the movement act and the political parties and organizations act.

He told the parliament that he would allow political parties sufficient time and space to open and operate branches, hold public rallies and identify election candidates.

The referendum held on July 28 approved the multiparty political system to replace the movement system in the east African country since 1986.

Source: Xinhua