The roar of Sukhoi fighter jets over Kampala signalled the start of the ceremony in a scene that has become a staple of Ugandan political history, which on Tuesday carried the weight of four decades.
Under the scorching afternoon sun at the Kololo Independence Grounds, Yoweri Museveni took the oath of office, beginning his seventh term and cementing his place as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Below, the Kololo Independence Grounds had been transformed into a heavily guarded venue as more than 40,000 guests, including 15 heads of state, gathered to witness the inauguration of the 81-year-old leader.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo administered both the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office in a ceremony steeped in state symbolism.
The transition rituals were overseen by Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who currently serves as the Chief of Defence Forces of the Ugandan army.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of national symbols, including the 1995 Constitution, the national flag, the presidential standard, the coat of arms and the public seal.
To supporters, the symbols represented decades of stability and continuity. Critics, however, view them as emblems of a presidency that has stretched across nearly 40 years.
“I, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, swear in the name of the Almighty God that I will faithfully exercise the functions of the President of Uganda,” Museveni declared during the oath-taking ceremony.
In his speech, Museveni reflected on Uganda’s turbulent past and acknowledged Kenya’s role during periods of instability in the 1970s and 1980s.
“When Ugandans were running away from Uganda, they were running to Kenya. They really helped us. I want you to know about them; they are our brothers and sisters who stood by us when the house was on fire,” he said.
As he begins his seventh term, Museveni said his administration will focus on pushing Uganda towards high middle-income status, with plans aimed at transitioning the remaining 38 per cent of Ugandans from subsistence living into the money economy.
Even so, questions over Uganda’s political future continue to linger, with growing speculation that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba could eventually succeed his father and extend the Museveni family’s grip on power in the East African nation.