Our southern neighbours in the United Republic of Tanzania have just concluded their presidential elections and Mr Jakaya Kikwete of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi is set to take office before the end of the year.

The elections were postponed from October due to the death of a running mate of another candidate. But since all candidates are presumed equal until after voting and results are announced, the law had to be applied and the polls were postponed.

However, this did not constitute a crisis because in Tanzania, everyone, right from the leaders to the ordinary people, respects the law.

Whenever Ugandans argue about democracy there is a tendency to draw comparisons with older democracies like the United Kingdom and the United States. These examples are quickly shot down with arguments that those societies took centuries to reach their level of political maturity.

But now we have a good example next-door from a country that attained independence at about the same time as Uganda.

In addition, Tanzania is not any better off than Uganda economically or in technological advancement.

There is therefore no justification for Ugandans to act less civilised than Tanzanians. And incidentally, the Tanzanians are even more keen on politics than Ugandans - so it is not a question of apathy that makes their politics calm.

They have registered a very high turn out for elections and they have been going through a very exciting period. In fact Zanzibar always witnesses volatile politics during elections because of the religious and racial factors, but they still manage to hold fair elections.

Mr Mkapa has just concluded his two terms and he did not attempt to amend the constitution in order to stand again, which would stifle others' ambitions and make them desperate.

Before him, Ali Hassan Mwinyi also ruled for two terms and left. Before Mwinyi, Mwalimu Nyerere told off sycophants who wanted him to continue standing when the country turned to multiparty politics. And we can predict with certainty that Kikwete will also respect the constitution and not make attempts to change it in his personal favour.

Uganda has now entered a phase of campaigns for the 2006 elections. It would help if the leaders of political camps looked over the southern border for proof that it is possible to compete for political power without turning it into a bitter life-and-death struggle.