Communication
Preparations In High Gear for President Museveni’s Swearing-In Ceremony
His Excellency, Rtd. General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, is set to be sworn in for a 7th term in office on the 12th of May, 2026, in a colourful function at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds that will attract Heads of State, members of revolutionary political parties in Africa and abroad, local and international dignitaries, as well as Ugandan citizens.
This was revealed by Honourable Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister of the Presidency, in a press conference held today at Uganda Media Centre. The necessity of such a function, the Minister said, is enshrined in Article 103, Subsection 8 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, which stipulates that a person elected President shall assume office within 24 hours of the expiration of the predecessor's term.
The ceremony’s theme is “Protecting the Gains: Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status,” and comes against the backdrop of President Museveni’s resounding victory in the 2026 polls.
“After assessment of recent manifestos, a majority of eligible voters representing 71.65% out of the total votes cast, found the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party manifesto clearly in the correct ideological principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy. This overwhelming public trust brought back our visionary leader, His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to steer this country for the next five years,” the Minister said.
Honourable Babalanda also used the opportunity to highlight the key achievements of the NRM Government since 1986, when it toppled General Tito Okello Lutwa’s Government after a gruelling guerrilla warfare that dated back to 1980. She attributed these to the Ugandan masses' choice to rest on the firm foundation and correct ideological direction laid by the NRM.
“The NRM has been able to preserve peace for 40 years, which no previous government has ever achieved. This has been done by emphasising interests such as business, markets, and services rather than identity, rights, religion, sectarianism, and gender equality. This has enabled the NRM Government to unite Ugandans politically and create strong national institutions like the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda Prisons Service,” she said.
She also highlighted Uganda’s economic growth and expansion from 128.5 billion (USD 34.7 billion) in 2019 to 226.3 billion (USD 61.3 billion) in the financial year 2024/2025, the reduction of poverty from 56.4% in 1992 to 16.1% in 2024 due to wealth creation initiatives like the Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model and expansion of the road network to 6,288 km from 1,000 km in 1986 and 844 km at independence in 1962 as some of the other achievements of the NRM Government.
The Minister also mentioned that the National Organising Committee, consisting of technical personnel from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the NRM Secretariat, together with the Secretary, Office of the President, were working around the clock to ensure a peaceful and fruitful ceremony. She also remarked that swearing-in would be preceded by numerous activities, including nationwide prayers for Uganda and the President across all denominations.
“On Friday, the 8th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all mosques across the country. On Saturday, the 9th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all Seventh-Day Adventist churches and on Sunday, the 10th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all other churches,” she said about the line-up for prayers.
Also present at the press briefing was Honourable Richard Toodwong, the Secretary General of the NRM, who expressed his elation at the level of seriousness and commitment with which the Government was organising the ceremony and used the chance to remind the Country about NRM’s dominant victory in the recently concluded polls at all levels.
“Maybe you wish to know that the 12th is going to be a public holiday because it’s a very important day for the country,” he said. “But just to refresh our memories, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is going to be sworn in for yet another term, was elected by 71.65% of the national vote cast. But at the parliamentary level, out of the 529 members of parliament, the NRM got 372 MPs, NUP got 49, UPC got 12, FDC got 9, DP got 6, PFF got 2, and Independents were 68,” he added.
The swearing-in ceremony is set to run from 8 am to 2 pm and is projected to host between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Among the invited guests are Cabinet ministers, members of the 11th and 12th Parliaments, Civil servants, Uganda's Ambassadors serving the different stations across the world, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Uganda, religious leaders, traditional and cultural leaders, and all Ugandans from all walks of life.
This was revealed by Honourable Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister of the Presidency, in a press conference held today at Uganda Media Centre. The necessity of such a function, the Minister said, is enshrined in Article 103, Subsection 8 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, which stipulates that a person elected President shall assume office within 24 hours of the expiration of the predecessor's term.
The ceremony’s theme is “Protecting the Gains: Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status,” and comes against the backdrop of President Museveni’s resounding victory in the 2026 polls.
“After assessment of recent manifestos, a majority of eligible voters representing 71.65% out of the total votes cast, found the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party manifesto clearly in the correct ideological principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy. This overwhelming public trust brought back our visionary leader, His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to steer this country for the next five years,” the Minister said.
Honourable Babalanda also used the opportunity to highlight the key achievements of the NRM Government since 1986, when it toppled General Tito Okello Lutwa’s Government after a gruelling guerrilla warfare that dated back to 1980. She attributed these to the Ugandan masses' choice to rest on the firm foundation and correct ideological direction laid by the NRM.
“The NRM has been able to preserve peace for 40 years, which no previous government has ever achieved. This has been done by emphasising interests such as business, markets, and services rather than identity, rights, religion, sectarianism, and gender equality. This has enabled the NRM Government to unite Ugandans politically and create strong national institutions like the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda Prisons Service,” she said.
She also highlighted Uganda’s economic growth and expansion from 128.5 billion (USD 34.7 billion) in 2019 to 226.3 billion (USD 61.3 billion) in the financial year 2024/2025, the reduction of poverty from 56.4% in 1992 to 16.1% in 2024 due to wealth creation initiatives like the Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model and expansion of the road network to 6,288 km from 1,000 km in 1986 and 844 km at independence in 1962 as some of the other achievements of the NRM Government.
The Minister also mentioned that the National Organising Committee, consisting of technical personnel from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the NRM Secretariat, together with the Secretary, Office of the President, were working around the clock to ensure a peaceful and fruitful ceremony. She also remarked that swearing-in would be preceded by numerous activities, including nationwide prayers for Uganda and the President across all denominations.
“On Friday, the 8th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all mosques across the country. On Saturday, the 9th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all Seventh-Day Adventist churches and on Sunday, the 10th of May 2026, there will be prayers in all other churches,” she said about the line-up for prayers.
Also present at the press briefing was Honourable Richard Toodwong, the Secretary General of the NRM, who expressed his elation at the level of seriousness and commitment with which the Government was organising the ceremony and used the chance to remind the Country about NRM’s dominant victory in the recently concluded polls at all levels.
“Maybe you wish to know that the 12th is going to be a public holiday because it’s a very important day for the country,” he said. “But just to refresh our memories, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is going to be sworn in for yet another term, was elected by 71.65% of the national vote cast. But at the parliamentary level, out of the 529 members of parliament, the NRM got 372 MPs, NUP got 49, UPC got 12, FDC got 9, DP got 6, PFF got 2, and Independents were 68,” he added.
The swearing-in ceremony is set to run from 8 am to 2 pm and is projected to host between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Among the invited guests are Cabinet ministers, members of the 11th and 12th Parliaments, Civil servants, Uganda's Ambassadors serving the different stations across the world, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Uganda, religious leaders, traditional and cultural leaders, and all Ugandans from all walks of life.
The author is a Communications Officer at the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance.
