President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh term, extending his rule in Uganda to nearly 40 years.
The ceremony took place in Kampala, where Museveni took the oath of office before a crowd of supporters, officials and invited regional guests.
Museveni was accompanied through the parade inspection by his son Gen Muhoozi and flanked by heavily armed special fprces personnel during the display.
Among those present was former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who joined other African dignitaries attending the inauguration. His presence underlined the continuing diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Kampala.
Museveni, who has led Uganda since 1986, returned to office after winning the January 2026 election, according to official results. The government says his new term will focus on economic growth, infrastructure and industrial expansion.
Supporters at the event hailed him as a stabilising figure in the region. “Uganda has remained steady under his leadership,” one senior official said during the ceremony.
But critics argue the long presidency has come at a cost. Opposition voices say political competition has narrowed over time, while rights groups continue to raise concerns about civic freedoms and electoral fairness.
Museveni’s rule is now among the longest in Africa. For many Ugandans, he remains the only leader they have known since independence era politics gave way to his takeover in the 1980s.
The inauguration, while celebratory, also revived quiet questions about succession and the future of Uganda’s political landscape. For now, however, Museveni remains firmly in charge with no indication that his time in office is nearing an end.
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