35 Heads of State Set to Attend Museveni's Inauguration on May 12

The Ugandan government has confirmed that at least 35 heads of state will attend President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration on May 12 at Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala. Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, disclosed that President Museveni extended invitations to numerous African leaders and others worldwide, with 30 delegations already confirming.

Museveni, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM), secured re-election on January 15 with 71.6% of the vote, far ahead of rivals like Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform. The ceremony, themed ‘Protecting the gains, making a qualitative leap into high middle income status,’ runs from 8am to 2pm.

Confirmations also include 15 delegations from 16 revolutionary parties globally, such as South Africa’s ANC, Tanzania’s CCM, Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF, and others like Kenya’s UDA and Rwanda’s RPF. NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong highlighted solidarity from liberation movements across Africa and beyond, including Russia’s federal party and China’s Communist Party.

Nationwide thanksgiving prayers are planned in mosques on Friday, Seventh Day Adventist churches on Saturday, and other denominations on Sunday. A National Organising Committee led by Hajj Yunus Kakande, overseen by Permanent Secretaries under Lucy Nakyobe, is coordinating efforts.

Security will be robust, involving police, UPDF, SFC, and anti-terrorism units, with traffic plans forthcoming. Invitees include MPs, diplomats, religious and cultural leaders, and Ugandans broadly. Opposition parties with parliamentary seats will receive invitations via IPOD, despite some like FDC and ANT announcing boycotts over election concerns.

The event expects 30,000 to 40,000 attendees, funded within the approved national budget.

Source: Daily Monitor