The government has declared May 12 a public holiday to allow citizens across the country to take part in the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni, as preparations for the high-profile event enter the final stretch.
Speaking to party leaders in Kampala, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong said the decision is intended to give Ugandans a chance to witness what he described as a historic inauguration set for Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
Todwong said the ceremony is drawing considerable global interest, with at least 35 heads of state and 19 political parties from Africa and beyond having already confirmed attendance. According to him, several of the visiting delegations are keen to study the NRM’s decades-long political dominance and its latest electoral success, which he attributed to entrenched grassroots structures and what he termed people-centered governance.
He added that during their stay, visiting political actors will interact with key party organs, including the Women’s League, youth leadership, and grassroots mobilization structures, in a series of engagements aimed at sharing political experience and strategy.
NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo said logistical preparations have been concluded, including the distribution of party-branded materials to leaders across the country for coordinated attire during the ceremony.
She outlined that all invited leaders will report to the ICT grounds in Nakawa on May 11 for accreditation, as well as meals and refreshments ahead of the main event. On the morning of May 12, leaders are expected back at Nakawa by 6:00am, where organized transport will ferry them to Kololo.
Nekesa noted that mobilization efforts have been intensified, particularly within the Kampala metropolitan area, while districts upcountry will roll out publicity campaigns and facilitate live broadcasts to ensure broad national participation. She added that the party has released funds to support transport, media coverage, and public awareness initiatives nationwide.
Authorities have also scheduled a series of build-up activities, including a drone light display over Kampala on the eve of the inauguration, expected to carry a message of appreciation from the President to Ugandans.
The ceremony is projected to attract thousands of attendees, both local and international, underscoring its significance as a major event on Uganda’s political calendar.
