Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni was among the six out of 18 aspiring candidates who passed the test to contest the 2006 presidential elections yesterday.

Democratic Party candidate, Kampala mayor John Ssebaana Kizito, who was turned away on Wednesday afternoon, was nominated at 10am.

Two hours later, the Electoral Commission team took just 25 minutes to peruse Mr Hajji Ntege Ssebaggala's papers and eventually declared him as an independent presidential candidate.

Ms Miria Kalule Obote, the Uganda Peoples Congress candidate, was nominated at 2 pm, shortly before President Museveni walked in at the venue, at Mandela Stadium, Namboole, Kampala.

Miria Obote had been booked for nomination on Wednesday at 3 pm, but did not show up after her supporting documents failed to pass the EC test.

A smiling President Museveni, flanked by National Resistance Movement Vice Chairman, Mr Hajji Moses Kigongo and Mr Amama Mbabazi was handed his nomination certificate at 2:10pm by Commission Chairman Dr Badru Kiggundu.

Prior to his arrival, EC officials flew into a frenzy of activity - the table clothes were changed and flowers placed on top. They ensured that everything was spotless before the President walked in.

The verification exercise lasted 10 minutes, which prompted Dr Kiggundu to commend NRM for delivering their papers early enough for verification.

However, there was a moment of discomfiture and it showed on President Museveni's face when Mr Joshua Wamala, the commissioner in charge of electoral affairs pointed out that the president's photographs didn't bear his name. Mr Kigongo quickly offered to write it.

After the nomination, Dr Kiggundu advised all candidates to exercise tolerance.

"We are entering the climax of the ascendancy. We should be tolerant. The world is looking at us," Dr Kiggundu said before handing President Museveni his nomination certificate. A beaming Mr Museveni then shook the chairman's hands, and thanked him for a job well done.

His exit triggered a series of chanting from his supporters, mainly ministers and Members of Parliament.

All clad in yellow, they sang praise songs for President Museveni, who at the time was being led out of the stadium, with journalists both local and international in hot pursuit.

Mama Miria's verification was also swift. She was in the company of Party officials Mr Peter Walubiri, Mr Joseph Ochieno, Prof Okello-Okello, and her son Eddie Obote, who were all dressed in red t-shirts bearing her portrait.

Ten minutes later, Dr Kiggundu declared her a presidential candidate, sending the anxious party officials into celebrations. They sang party songs as they were led out of the stadium by election commission officials.

Mr Abed Bwanika, another independent candidate too was successfully nominated.