The electoral commission warned all candidates, parties and media not to announce any results that had not been declared by the electoral commission.

Earlier this week, Kizza Besigye standing against President Yoweri Museveni for the third time had warned of protests if he is "cheated" of victory.

But Mr Museveni who is hoping for re-election to extend his 25 years in office said," Egyptian-style protests could not happen in Uganda."

However ,Ugandan officials have sought to reassure voters that there is adequate security for the polls after the mass circulation of text messages warning people to stock up on food and fuel in case of trouble.

Dr Besigye and Mr Museveni were allies in the guerrilla war which brought the latter to power in 1986, but they later fell out.

Six other presidential candidates are in the running and Ugandans will be voting for MPs as well.

Unlike the poll five years ago, which was marred by the harassment and intimidation of the opposition, this time around Dr Kizza Besigye and the other presidential hopefuls have been free to campaign.

Instead, a different tactic has been used: money. The advantage of incumbency has been colossal. It is no secret that President Museveni's party has spent vast amounts of the government budget to ensure he is voted back in.

"Security is firmly on the ground and about 20 militia groups had been formed in the run-up to the vote, which prompted worries of unrest.

But police chief Kale Kahiyura reiterated Mr Kiggundu's comments and said there was no need for panic.

"There is no reason for anybody to think there will be inadequate security," he said.

Both President Museveni and Dr Besigye drew large crowds to their final campaign rallies on Wednesday.

Dr Besigye, who used to be Mr Museveni's personal doctor, complained that the elections were being rigged.

"I'm not going to go to the court because the court is not going to provide a solution," he told the BBC.

"One of the ways is to, indeed, get the people themselves to protest."

But Mr Museveni said he was confident of a big win and warned that anyone using "extra-constitutional means to take power" would be locked up.

"There will be no Egyptian-like revolution here because we are freedom fighters, we are not office people," he said.

"It's out of the question, I can guarantee you this - it will not happen."

Mr Museveni has defeated his challengers every five years since 1996, but his support has steadily declined from 75% which he received in 1996 to 59% in 2006.