Kampala, Uganda – President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni was sworn in for a seventh term Monday morning at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, arriving at around 10:40 a.m. in his signature white shirt and hat before taking the oath of allegiance and the oath of the presidency.
Standing to his left on the dais was his daughter Natasha Kainembabazi Museveni Karugire. Conspicuously absent was First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni, the minister of Education and wife of the president, whose nonattendance immediately drew widespread speculation among the crowds at Kololo and across social media.
It was only the second time in 40 years that Janet Museveni had missed her husband’s swearing in. The first was in 1986 at the steps of Parliament, when she was still in exile in Sweden.
The Dean of the Province of the Church of Uganda, Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa, addressed her absence directly during a public prayer, declaring that the First Lady had “healed and recovered.” Mwesigwa, who also serves as the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, appeared to speak with firsthand knowledge of her condition, though no official statement was issued by State House.
Following the oath, Museveni received the instruments of power and was honored with the presidential salute, the national anthem and a 21-gun salute. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces staged a display of military capacity, including units from the Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces Command, Anti-Aircraft and Air Defence, Paratroopers and other specialized units.
Ten heads of state attended the ceremony in person. Representing them in remarks was the President of Burundi and African Union Chairman Evariste Ndayishimiye, who praised Museveni’s leadership and credited him with contributing to regional economic transformation and the stability of Burundi specifically.
Museveni won the Jan. 15, 2026, presidential election with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65% of the total. His closest rival, Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform, commonly known as Bobi Wine, received 2,741,238 votes, or 24.72%.
In his address to the nation, Museveni declared the coming term a period of “no sleep,” framing it as a time for serious work and accountability. He outlined what he called seven bricks that the NRM has laid toward building Uganda: eliminating sectarianism, developing infrastructure, creating wealth, generating jobs, improving service delivery, opening up markets and maintaining peace and security.
“You cannot talk of development without market,” Museveni said, using the remark as a foundation to reaffirm his commitment to East African and broader African economic and political integration. He said political unity across the region was essential not only for trade but for the security of the continent.
The president thanked Tanzania for its contribution to the liberation struggle, acknowledged Mozambique for supporting the training of his forces, and recognized Kenya for sheltering Ugandans who fled misrule during the country’s turbulent past.
He congratulated the Democratic Party and the Uganda People’s Congress for participating in the election without violence, while singling out the National Unity Platform and elements of the Forum for Democratic Change for what he described as acts of violence during the campaign period.
Museveni closed his remarks with a blunt declaration: this term, there will be no room for corruption and no more sleep.
