The National Resistance Army (NRA) guerillas led by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni attacked Kampala and overran the regime of Tito Okello Lutwa. Less than a year in power, the Uganda National Liberation Army junta had staged a coup against the Uganda People’s Congress government of Apollo Milton Obote.

As the victors swept through Kampala streets, citizens cheered and welcomed the liberating forces. This was January 26, 1986, a new era; an end to misrule was ushered in. It was a watershed! Lutwa and his fighters fled in disarray.

On January 29, the new President, Museveni, stood at the steps of Parliament to make his solemn oath to the people of Uganda. This was his first swearing-in ceremony and no one could guess 35 years today that he would take oath five and possibly more times.

1986 SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

In a modest function, Museveni surrounded by close NRA confidants swore to be loyal to the republic, at a ceremony conducted by British-born Peter Allen, the Chief Justice. There were no visiting heads of state or dignitaries from other countries. The function was driven by the euphoria of the new beginning. The police brass band played.

President Yoweri Museveni swearing-in in 1986

As spontaneous celebrations continued across the country, a particular quote from the President’s inaugural speech reverberated across the country and in the world. “No one should think that what is happening today is a mere change of guard: It is a fundamental change in the politics of our country,” Museveni stated.

“The people of Africa, the people of Uganda, are entitled to a democratic government. It is not a favour from any regime. The sovereign people must be the public, not the Government,” he added.

Ever since, Museveni has won five successive elections, making him the longest-serving President the country has ever had.

Today, at Kololo Independence Grounds, Museveni makes his seventh oath to guard and protect the Constitution of the republic and also to be loyal to the people of Uganda.

1996 CEREMONY

In 1996, Museveni was sworn in by former Chief Justice Samuel Wako Wambuzi as the country’s first directly-elected president.

President Yoweri Museveni with the symbolic key to State House

The glamorous ceremony was attended by heads of state from neighbouring countries, who have since retired or relinquished power. They were the late Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, the late Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda and Sylvestre Ntibantunganya of Burundi.

The grand occasion was also blessed by the attendance of the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Mutebi II; the Omukama of Bunyoro, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, and the late Kyabazinga of Busoga, Henry Muloki. Jailed former Toro Prime Minister John Katuramu represented the then under-age Omukama of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Hundreds of supporters attended the occasion at Kololo Airstrip chanting Museveni’s campaign slogan, ‘No change.’

Museveni with his wife, Janet, arrived at 12:25 pm aboard a white Cross Country Benz amidst cheers. The then Vice-President, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, Chief Justice Wambuzi and the chairman of the then interim Electoral Commission, Stephen Akabway, welcomed the President-elect.

Museveni mounted a dais decorated in national flag colours (black, yellow and red) and took a presidential salute as the Prisons and UPDF brass band played the national anthem. He thereafter inspected a guard of honour by the armed forces.

At 12:45 pm, Akabway introduced ‘President-Elect’ Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Chief Justice Wako Wambuzi, who wore a red robe and wig, stepped forward to administer an oath of allegiance first and Presidential Oath last. Museveni was thereafter accorded a 21-gun salute!

The Chief Justice handed Museveni instruments of power, which included a copy of the Constitution, a symbolic key to State House, Coat of Arms, national anthem, the national and presidential flags. Museveni carried the Coat of Arms on his head for some seconds as photographers snapped away.

President Yoweri Museveni taking the Presidential Oath at the 1996 swearing-in ceremony

Religious leaders at the ceremony included the late Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Church of Uganda; Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, the retired Archbishop of Kampala Diocese; Christian Aliddeki of the Seventh Day Adventists; Dr Peter Matovu who represented late Archbishop Theodorus Nankyama of the Orthodox Church; and late Saad Luwemba, who was then Mufti.

Museveni used the occasion to lambast Sudan president Omar Bashir for supporting the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels who were waging a rebellion on the north.

“I now have the mandate of the people to restore peace to the northern frontier. I advise the president of Sudan, Bashir, to stop henceforth disturbing our northern frontier,” Museveni warned.

2001 CEREMONY

“I, Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, swear in the name of Almighty God, that I will be faithful and bear allegiance to the Republic of Uganda and that I will preserve and protect the Constitution, so help me God,” the President said on May 12, 2001, to begin his new five-year term.

President Yoweri Museveni getting ready to take the Presidential oath in 2001

The then Electoral Commission chairman, Aziz Kasujja, introduced President-elect, Yoweri Museveni. In a short but vital swearing-in ceremony presided over by the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, Museveni was presented with the instruments of power. On receiving the symbolic key to State House, the president handed it to the First Lady, Janet.

The leaders present included the late President of Libya, Col. Muammar Gaddafi; the President of Sudan, Gen. Omar Bashir; the then leader of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi; former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa and then president of Burundi Pierre Buyoya.

Rwanda was represented by the prime minister, Bernard Mukuza, South Africa had then vice-president and now former President, Jacob Zuma, while Nigeria sent former president the late Shehu Shegari.

Swearing-in President Yoweri Museveni at Kololo Airstrip On March 12, 2001

Senegal, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mozambique, DR Congo, Egypt and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa were represented by envoys.

Ugandan dignitaries included the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Mutebi, and King Oyo of Toro. Former presidential candidates Aggrey Awori, Kibirige Mayanja, Francis Bwengye and Karuhanga Chapaa attended. However, presidential runner-up Dr Kizza Besigye boycotted the function.

Swearing-in President Yoweri Museveni at Kololo Airstrip On March 12, 2001

Besides the usual parade and traditional entertainers, MiG 21 planes staged a flypast over Kololo and its surroundings, alarming onlookers at first and then causing ripples of excitement.

Zambian comedian Ben Phiri caused rib-breaking laughter as he imitated Museveni, Africa icon Nelson Mandela and former BBC Ugandan-based journalist Anna Borzello. 

2006 CEREMONY

In 2006, President Museveni was sworn for the third consecutive five-year term. The Electoral Commission chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, introduced President-elect Museveni to the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, who administered the oath.

In 2006, President Museveni was sworn for the third consecutive five-year term

Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Thabo Mbeki (then of South Africa), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), the late Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) attended.

Other leaders were Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia), Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), the late Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi), Armando Emilio Guebuza (Mozambique), Muhammed Abdelaziz (Saharawi) and Abdallahi Yusuf Ahmed (then of Somalia).

Congo Brazzaville Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, as well as (former) DR Congo vice-presidents Jean Pierre Bemba and Azarius Ruberwa were in attendance at Kololo as was Rebecca Garang, the widow of founder Sudan People’s Liberation Army leader.

President Yoweri Museveni showing off the symbolic key to State House

The then Nigerian president, Olesegun Obasanjo, and Libya’s Gaddafi sent representatives, while former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a message.

All 30 countries, including China, were represented at a function that started with a heavy downpour.

Former presidential candidate Abed Bwanika (People’s Democratic Party) and former Democratic Party stalwart Nasser Ssebaggala attended.

2011 CEREMONY

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn on May 12 to commence his fourth elective term as President at a function witnessed by eight presidents, a huge crowd and representatives from 20 other countries.

Museveni vowed to uphold the Constitution, defend the national wealth and promote the welfare of Ugandans. He urged the opposition not to act desperate and offered to serve all Ugandans, including those who did not vote for him.

Swearing-in: President Yoweri Museveni takes the oath as he swears in for the 4th term as President of Uganda at Kololo on March 12, 2011

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the then Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, with the assistance of the head of Public Service and secretary to the Cabinet, John Mitala.

Before Museveni took the oath, the Electoral Commission chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, declared that the president-elect had fulfilled all the requisite Constitutional provisions to assume office for his fifth term.

The Chief Justice handed to Museveni instruments of power, which included a copy of the Constitution, Coat of Arms, national flag, presidential flag, lyrics of the national anthem and a public seal.

Present to witness the glamourous occasion were former president Joseph Kabila (DRC), Mwai Kibaki, former president (Kenya), Dr Goodluck Jonathan, former president(Nigeria), Muhammad Abdelziz (Saharawi), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (Somalia), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), the late Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) Gen. Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and the Ethiopian Executive Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Swearing-in: President Yoweri Museveni signs after swearing-in for the 4th term as President of Uganda at Kololo on March 12, 2011

Other dignitaries were the vice-presidents of Zambia and Burundi; George Kunda and Therence Sinunguruza respectively. Prime ministers Dr Essam Sharaf (Egypt), Nahas Angula (Namibia) and Bernard Makuza (Rwanda) also attended.

Other dignitaries were former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, the Secretary-General of the East African Community, Dr Richard Sezibera, and the Speaker of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Abdirahim H. Abdi.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY 2016

Donning a dotted light-yellow tie and a white cotton shirt, President Yoweri Museveni, who was clad in a black suit, removed his trademark hat and faced the guard of honour. But before he inspected the parade, echoes of the 21-gun salute roared over Kololo Independence Grounds and beyond as supporters and guests cheered.

Newly sworn-in President Yoweri Museveni displays the national seal, which he was handed as one of the instruments of power at Kololo Independence Grounds

A few minutes earlier, Museveni, who was accompanied by First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet, had taken two oaths — a presidential oath and an oath of allegiance.

It was the fifth swearing-in for Museveni as a directly elected President and the sixth since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) captured power in 1986.

MIDDLE-INCOME STATUS

Museveni, who thanked supporters for entrusting him and NRM with another mandate, said all efforts would be thrown into the 2020 trajectory of transforming Uganda into a middle-income country.

President Museveni and First Lady Janet arriving for the swearing-in ceremony

OPPOSITION TALKS

Museveni extended an olive branch to his opponents, saying they are always welcome for talks. He, however, put a caveat on this proposed cooperation between NRM and other political parties in the country.

Only two former presidential candidates, Maureen Kyalya and Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba attended the swearing-in ceremony.

President Yoweri Museveni receives the Court of Arms from Chief Justice Bart Katureebe as First Lady Janet looks on during the swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Independence Grounds

The prayers at the ceremony were led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali; the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje and Pastor Robert Kayanja.

BASHIR DEFIES ICC

Museveni introduced the various heads of state and delegates that graced the event. Fourteen presidents attended Museveni’s inauguration, including now-imprisoned Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan. Bashir was the first president to arrive at Kololo, and while introducing him, Museveni bashed the International Criminal Court (ICC), which indicted Bashir in 2009 for alleged crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Museveni receives Bashir at Kololo Independence Grounds

Aboard his presidential black car airlifted from Sudan, Bashir was the first to arrive under heavy security. He was the only president who was driven in his own car. The rest used government cars.

Introduced by President Museveni as Mzee, Mugabe, surrounded by mean looking security officers, arrived late at the venue and found the President taking the oath. He walked straight to his seat as the crowd chanted; “Mugabe, Mugabe, Mugabe.” President Uhuru Kenyatta also charmed the crowd.

Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta, Tanzania’s late president John Pombe Magufuli and his predecessor, Jakaya Kikwete, share a light moment

The other presidents who attended the function were Teodoro Obiang Ngwema (Equatorial Guinea), Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Idriss Deby (Chad), Mahamadou Issoufou ( Niger), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Hassan Sheikh Muhamoud (Somalia), Ibrahim Keita (Mali) and King Letsie III (Lesotho). Former presidents who attended included Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Mahindra Rajapaksa ( Sri Lanka).

Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Zimbawe’s Robert Mugabe, Lesotho king Letsie III and South Sudan president, Salva Kiir at the function

There were high-level delegations from Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Cameroon, Libya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Russia, China, Egypt, Mauritania, the US, France, Germany, Brazil, Cuba and Ghana.