Uganda's Yoweri Museveni defends record in presidential debate

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni (with file) and National Resistance Movement party presidential candidate shakes hands with Amama Mbabazi former prime minister and the The Democratic Alliance (TDA) presidential candidate during presidential debate in Kampala February 13, 2016. REUTERS/James Akena

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni dismissed as fiction attacks from rivals over allegations of corruption, unemployment and the state of healthcare in a televised debate on Saturday ahead of next week's presidential election.

Museveni, 71, has ruled the east African country for 30 years, and is widely expected to win the election on Thursday although analysts say it is his toughest political contest yet.