NRM’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been sworn in as the president of the Republic of Uganda for the sixth elective term.

According to the Ugandan press, Museveni was sworn in on Wednesday at Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital Kampala at around midday.

When taking the oath, he promised to abide by the law and fulfil all the promises he made for the Ugandan people at the beginning of the year.

“I, Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni…swear that I’ll observe the laws of Uganda and promote the welfare of the people of Uganda,” he promised as quoted by the Daily Monitor.

A total of eleven heads of states attended the ceremony. They include: Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Hage Gottfried Geingob (Namibia), Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Somalia), and Alpha Conde (Guinea).
Also in attendance were Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo (DRC), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania) and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia).

Museveni won the controversial January 2021 elections, garnering 58 per cent of the vote. NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine came second after garnering 34 per cent of the votes. Wine disputed the outcome of the election alleging massive rigging by state officers.

Both Wine and FDC’s Kizza Besigye gave the oathing ceremony a wide berth. They reported that their residences were surrounded by soldiers from Tuesday and some the opposition supporters arrested.

But Ugandan national army deputy spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki justified the crackdown saying, ‘‘UPDF had put at disposal all its elements to the Uganda police across all the services, land forces, Special Forces and the Air force.’’