A team of the European Union (EU) exploratory election monitors is in the country to assess if an observer mission should be deployed during next year's elections.

"The reason we are here is that Uganda has been designated as a priority country for election observation by the European Commission," Andrew Bruce, from the commission's external relations election team, said.

The team of six, who are here for over a week to meet a wide range of interlocutors, will be finding out if a deployment would be useful, feasible and advisable.

"When our initial fact-finding mission is complete we will return to Brussels and make a recommendation to our commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, as to whether a mission should be deployed. It will ultimately be her decision if a monitoring team will be present," he added. The evaluation as to whether a country like Uganda constitutes being a priority case is taken following internal discussions within the Commission and between European Council member states.

A decision is then reached. The main criterion, however, is the question of if value can be added by an observer mission being present before and during voting.

This is the first time Uganda has been considered for EU observation.