Parliament limits physical attendance for state of the nation address

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Parliament has issued new guidelines limiting the physical attendance for the state of the nation's address to only Members of the 12th Parliament and selected officials of Parliament.

According to a statement issued by the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, President Yoweri Museveni will deliver the State of the Nation Address on June 4, 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

However, due to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health on the Ebola outbreak and the Standard Operating Procedures issued to contain its spread, Mwesige said Parliament has also taken precautionary measures regarding physical attendance at the sitting in Kololo.

According to Mwesige, only MPs of the 12th parliament and a few selected staff will be allowed to attend.

He said all guests who had earlier been invited are advised not to attend physically, as Parliament has made arrangements for virtual participation in the proceedings.

“The State of the Nation Address will be broadcast live to the general public through all Parliament social media platforms and the national broadcaster,” Mwesige said.

The State of the Nation Address in Uganda is traditionally marked by grandeur, ceremony and a strong display of state authority. It marks the first sitting of a new Parliament.

The ceremony is one of the national occasions attended by the country’s top leadership, diplomats, military commanders, religious leaders and invited dignitaries.
President Yoweri Museveni normally arrives under tight security and full military protocol, with a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
Inside the tent at Kololo, there is usually elaborate decoration, ceremonial dress, and heightened media attention.

MPs arrive in their finest attire, while cultural groups, brass bands and military escorts add colour to the occasion.

The Speaker’s procession, the singing of the national anthem, gun salutes and live nationwide television coverage all contribute to the pomp that characterises the annual address.

Diplomats and international guests typically attend physically, making the ceremony both a domestic and international spectacle.

However, such grandeur may not be possible under the shadow of Ebola. Public health restrictions associated with Ebola outbreaks directly undermine the very elements that give the State of the Nation Address its ceremonial atmosphere.

Large gatherings would have to be minimised to avoid possible transmission.