Museveni had said that multi-party politics would divide Uganda

Yoweri Museveni said that Uganda was now ready to move on from the non-party system it has had since he took power.

Literacy had increased and "sectarianism abated", he said. Uganda has been under strong donor pressure to abandon its "Movement" system.

Elections scheduled for 2006 would be held under the new system, if approved in a referendum, Mr Museveni said.

"That's our recommendation as a government - to move towards pluralism. It's for the people to decide," he said.

He said the Movement system had helped Uganda recover from the civil war which ended in 1986.

He has previously argued that multi-party politics would divide Uganda along ethnic and religious lines.

Registered political parties are now allowed to operate but most of the major opposition groups have refused to register.

The law which regulates parties has been taken to court.

Mr Museveni's critics accuse him of only agreeing to multi-party politics if he is able to run for president.