Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has picked nomination forms from the country's Electoral Commission (EC) to run for the 2006 presidential election, setting the stage for poll battle, according to local press reports on Tuesday.

Carrying the authorizing letter signed by Chairman of electoral commission of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Ruhakana Rugunda, NRM electoral commissioner Zam Zam Nagujja and the president's private secretary for political affairs David Mafabi picked the papers on Monday.

"This is to request you to give the presidential nomination forms for the 2006 elections of the above named NRM candidate ( Museveni) to Hajati Zam Zam Nagujja Kasujja, a commissioner in this office," the letter was quoted by state-owned The New Vision as saying.

It also asked the EC to schedule and reserve the nomination of Yoweri Museveni for December 15, 2005.

Kasujja and Mafabi were received by the principal elections officer Charles Lubwama who had them sign for the papers.

According to a recent announcement from the EC, nomination of presidential candidates is scheduled for December 14 and 15 in Kampala.

President Museveni is the 20th aspirant who has picked nomination papers from the EC.

Meanwhile, the NRM Electoral Commission has sent out letters to its chairpersons of all the 69 districts, urging them to sign for the nomination of Museveni as a presidential candidate.

Uganda will hold its first multiparty general elections early next year after 20 years' Movement system.

A total of 33 political parties have registered to take part in the 2006 elections.

Source: Xinhua