Written By | Staff Writer
President Museveni swears in for the 7th Time
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KOLOLO
Yoweri Museveni was on Today sworn in during a high-profile state ceremony at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds attended by regional leaders, foreign dignitaries, senior government officials, and thousands of supporters. However, the absence of First Lady Janet Museveni quickly emerged as one of the most discussed aspects of the inauguration.
The ceremony, held under tight security in central Kampala, marked the beginning of Museveni’s new presidential term following his victory in the country’s recent general election. Military parades, ceremonial gun salutes, and cultural performances formed part of the day’s proceedings as invited guests filled the expansive Kololo grounds from early morning.
His Daughter was besides him while First Lady was notably missing
Museveni arrived shortly before midday in a heavily guarded presidential convoy before inspecting a guard of honor mounted by the Uganda People's Defence Forces. He later took the Oath of Allegiance and the Presidential Oath before senior judicial officials in accordance with constitutional procedure.
In his inaugural address, Museveni emphasized economic transformation, industrialization, infrastructure development, and regional security cooperation, while calling for patriotism, discipline, and continued investment in wealth-creation initiatives.
“We must continue building an economy that creates jobs, strengthens local industries, and protects Uganda from external shocks,” Museveni said during the nationally televised ceremony.
The event attracted several heads of state and diplomatic delegations from across Africa, underscoring Uganda’s regional political influence and Museveni’s longstanding role in continental affairs.
Despite the scale and symbolism of the inauguration, public attention increasingly shifted toward Janet Museveni’s absence from the ceremony.
The First Lady, who also serves as Minister of Education and Sports, has for decades remained a visible presence at major state functions, including previous presidential inaugurations, national celebrations, and diplomatic receptions. Her absence from Tuesday’s ceremony was immediately noticed by attendees at Kololo and by viewers following live broadcasts on television and online platforms.
President Museveni arrives at Kololo for his official swearing-in
No official explanation was provided during the ceremony, and by Tuesday evening, neither State House nor the Office of the First Lady had publicly commented on the matter.
The absence quickly sparked widespread discussion on social media, where Ugandans speculated about possible reasons ranging from official scheduling commitments to health concerns and internal political developments. None of the claims circulating online had been independently verified.
Political analysts said the reaction reflected the symbolic role Uganda’s first family has come to occupy after nearly four decades of Museveni’s leadership.
“In long-serving administrations, public appearances themselves become politically significant,” said Kampala-based governance analyst Richard Ssemanda. “People are used to seeing the president and First Lady together during national ceremonies of this magnitude, so naturally questions arise when that changes.”
Other observers cautioned against attaching political meaning to the absence without official information, noting that senior government officials occasionally miss public events because of competing schedules, travel obligations, or personal matters.
Still, several guests attending the ceremony privately acknowledged that Janet Museveni’s absence became one of the dominant conversations among attendees as the inauguration progressed.
“It was noticeable almost immediately,” one senior official at Kololo said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “People expected to see the First Lady because she has consistently attended events like this over the years.”
The inauguration proceeded under heightened security, with major roads around Kampala temporarily restricted as security agencies managed movements linked to visiting delegations and dignitaries. Large crowds of ruling National Resistance Movement supporters dressed in party colors gathered near the venue throughout the day, waving flags and singing patriotic songs as military bands performed ceremonial music.
Opposition leaders largely stayed away from the event, with several opposition parties previously criticizing the electoral process and describing the inauguration as politically contentious.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, Museveni greeted foreign dignitaries and senior government officials before attending a closed-door reception with invited guests.
By late evening, official government communication surrounding the inauguration focused primarily on the president’s speech, the attendance of foreign leaders, and the significance of the ceremony itself, while questions surrounding the First Lady’s absence remained unanswered.
Some of the guests
As discussion continued online and within political circles, analysts said the episode highlighted the extent to which symbolism and public presentation continue to shape political discourse in Uganda during major state occasions.
Torch Media Africa
