ENTEBBE, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived here on Friday to among others ask for Uganda' s support to lobby the United Nations Security Council not to impose sanctions on Tehran over its uranium enrichment program.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni welcomed Ahmadinejad at State House Entebbe, 40km south of the capital Kampala.

He was given a 21 gun salute and thereafter inspected a guard of honor before he proceeded for a State Banquet.

James Mugume, the permanent secretary of ministry of foreign affairs Uganda told Xinhua that the two leaders might discuss Tehran's nuclear enrichment program.

"He (Ahmadinejad) might consult on nuclear enrichment program because this is the debate in the Security Council. We believe we can solve this issue peacefully," he said.

Uganda is a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The United States and its allies have been pushing for a fourth round of UN sanctions to restrict Iran's nuclear efforts, which they say are aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Iran denies the accusation, saying its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and is intended to generate electricity for its people.

Museveni has previously argued that developing countries have a right to acquire, develop and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Ahmadinejad's two-day state visit to Uganda is seen as the country's move to have talks with the 15 Security Council members in search for an agreement.