KAMPALA, Uganda — Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as President of Uganda on Tuesday, extending his decades-long rule for another five-year term during a ceremony at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds attended by regional Heads of State and foreign dignitaries.
The 81-year-old leader took the oath of office before thousands of supporters who filled the Kampala suburb to witness the inauguration.
Military Display Marks Ceremony
Museveni received the ceremonial instruments of power as the crowd cheered. His son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba — Uganda’s army chief and presumed political heir — oversaw days-long rehearsals for the military parade that animated the event.
Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets roared over the ceremonial grounds as part of the inauguration display, underscoring the military’s central role in the ceremony and Museveni’s governance.
Regional Attendance
Regional leaders and foreign dignitaries joined Ugandan officials in witnessing the event, which marked another chapter in Museveni’s leadership of the East African nation.
Museveni, who first took power in 1986 following a five-year guerrilla war, has now secured a seventh elected term. His long tenure has made him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, with his rule spanning nearly four decades.
The inauguration comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Uganda’s political space, where opposition figures have faced restrictions and the government has tightened controls on dissent in recent years.
The military parade and fighter jet display signal the continued fusion of military prestige with executive authority that has characterised Museveni’s administration.