President Yoweri Museveni has declared that his new term in office will be a period of “no more sleep,” calling on Ugandans to embrace wealth creation, fight corruption and fully participate in the money economy. Thousands erupted into thunderous cheers as Yoweri Museveni was officially sworn in for a seventh elective term in a colorful […]
President Yoweri Museveni has declared that his new term in office will be a period of “no more sleep,” calling on Ugandans to embrace wealth creation, fight corruption and fully participate in the money economy.
Thousands erupted into thunderous cheers as Yoweri Museveni was officially sworn in for a seventh elective term in a colorful ceremony held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Tuesday.
Dressed in his trademark white shirt and wide-brimmed hat, Museveni arrived at the packed ceremonial grounds amid loud ululations, military fanfare and chants from supporters who had filled the massive pavilion hours before the function began.
The veteran leader, whose new term will further extend his decades-long leadership of Uganda, was received with full military honours before proceeding to inspect the parade alongside his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces.
After the inspection, Museveni took his seat as dignitaries and foreign heads of state watched the historic ceremony unfold.
Moments later, Justice Simon Byabakama stepped onto the podium and formally re-declared Museveni winner of the recently concluded presidential election.
Byabakama announced that Museveni secured victory with 71.65 percent of the vote and said the results stood without challenge.
“The President was duly elected,” Byabakama declared before inviting Chief Justice Flavian Zeija to administer the oath of office.
Flanked by his daughter Natasha Museveni, the President then walked to the main podium as the crowd rose to its feet.
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, was notably absent from the ceremony.
Museveni was handed a Holy Bible and proceeded to take both the Oath of Allegiance and the Presidential Oath before Chief Justice Zeija, officially beginning his new term in office.
Immediately after taking oath, the President received the instruments of power symbolizing presidential authority and command of the State.
These included:
The National Flag
The Constitution
The Presidential Standard
The National Anthem
The Presidential Seal
The Coat of Arms
A 21-gun salute then thundered across Kololo as military bands played and supporters waved national flags in celebration.
The newly sworn-in President later carried out another parade inspection in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces ,his first official military duty of the new term.
The ceremony attracted several African leaders, diplomats, religious leaders, government officials and thousands of NRM supporters from across the country.
Byabakama then called on the President and Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija to preside over the swearing in ceremony. Flanked by his daughter Natasha Museveni, the President whose wife and first lady was visibly absent took to the podium, was handed the holy bible that he used to take the oath of allegience and oath of Presidency.
Museveni was then handed the instruments of power including the national flag, national Anthem, constitution , presidental stansdard flag , seal and court of arms. He was given a 21 salute gun and again inspected the parade as the commander in chief , 1st role in a new term.
Speaking during his swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Tuesday, Museveni said Uganda has undergone massive transformation under the National Resistance Movement government since 1986, but warned that some Ugandans are still “sleeping” instead of taking advantage of government programmes and economic opportunities.
“This Kisanja should be regarded as a Kisanja of ‘No More Sleep’ for all Ugandans,” Museveni said.
The President congratulated Ugandans upon completing the 2026 general elections and praised the NRM for what he described as overwhelming victories in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
“I especially congratulate our party, the NRM, for winning all those elections with big majorities,” he said.
Museveni also commended political parties that participated peacefully in the elections but criticized the opposition National Unity Platform and some members of the Forum for Democratic Change for allegedly engaging in violence.
“I also congratulate the other parties such as DP and UPC that participated in the elections without using violence unlike the party of NUP and some few elements of FDC,” Museveni said.
The President used the speech to defend the NRM’s 40-year rule, saying the government had laid what he described as “matafaari” or bricks for Uganda’s transformation.
“These were peace, infrastructure, wealth creation, jobs, services, markets and political integration,” Museveni said.
According to Museveni, the NRM first restored peace by rejecting sectarian politics and building what he described as a strong national army under the UPDF.
He said the second contribution was infrastructure development including roads, electricity, railways, airports, piped water and telecommunications.
The President cited projects such as the Entebbe Expressway, the Nakivubo Wastewater Treatment Plant and Katosi Water Project as examples of government achievements.
Museveni also praised Ugandans who used peace and infrastructure to create wealth through agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT.
“It is now the wealth of individuals, families or companies that creates jobs,” he said.
“Without wealth creation by the Government, individuals, families or companies, there will be no appreciable quantity of jobs.”
The President said Uganda’s participation in the money economy has drastically improved under the NRM administration.
“At Independence in 1962, only 9.4 percent of the homesteads were in the money economy. In 2013, only 32 percent were in the money economy. On account of the work of OWC and PDM, the homesteads in the money economy are now 67 percent,” Museveni said.
He noted that government programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Uganda Development Bank financing and Operation Wealth Creation had empowered millions of Ugandans.
“The NRM is also providing a nucleus of cheap capital in the form of PDM, Emyooga and UDB money,” he said.
Museveni said those who listened to the NRM message on wealth creation since 1986 had accumulated wealth and improved their standards of living.
“Look at the real estate explosion around Kampala and Entebbe,” he said while videos of modern buildings and urban developments were displayed on giant screens at Kololo.
“There are poor people in Uganda, but there are also rich people.” he added
The President mentioned examples of successful Ugandans involved in farming and industrialization, including Basoga region of Kamuli, Eastern region of Serere and investors operating in Mbale Industrial Park that has apparently created jobs for 20000 Ugandans.
He also noted the case of Nyakaana, a farmer who reportedly earns Shs240 million annually from just 1.3 acres of land while employing 15 people. The President also revealed that the millions in acres of arable land that Uganda boasts of can improve employment levels massively if even less than half of the money is invested.
“I have reminded you that Uganda has got 40 million acres of very good arable land. If only seven million of those acres were used the Nyakaana way, we would create 105 million jobs,” Museveni said.
The President said it was unfortunate that some Ugandans continue leaving the country to search for jobs abroad despite opportunities at home.
“It is a shame to see Ugandans going abroad to look for jobs,” he said.
Museveni further praised Uganda’s manufacturing and services sectors, saying factories, industries and hotels are employing thousands of Ugandans.
He pointed to Madhvani Group’s Kakira Sugar Works, which he said employs about 14,000 people, as well as hotels such as Speke Resort Munyonyo and Sheraton Kampala Hotel that has also employed at least 400 people.
The President also insisted on the importance of value addition, accusing African leaders of making a historic mistake by exporting raw materials without processing them.
“This is a strategic blunder,” Museveni said.
“If you export unprocessed gold, coffee or minerals, you donate jobs and profits to outsiders.”
He argued that Africa’s GDP should be far higher than its current level given the continent’s population and natural resources.
“Africa’s GDP should be at least USD 60 trillion if not more,” he said.
Museveni also called for reforms in Uganda’s education system to focus more on practical skills needed in the labour market.
“We need to retune our educational system to concentrate on imparting skills that are needed in the labour market,” he said.
On corruption, the President warned public officials against diverting government funds meant for wananchi under poverty alleviation programmes.
“No more excuses,” Museveni declared.
“These programmes are here in every parish and every constituency. If anybody is diverting the money, you are empowered to deal with him or her.”
He encouraged citizens to join and actively monitor Parish SACCOs to ensure accountability and proper use of government resources.
Museveni also warned against environmental destruction, especially the encroachment on wetlands.
“All rice growing and potato growing in swamps must stop,” he said, adding that government would instead promote fish farming and irrigation projects.
The President concluded by thanking foreign leaders and guests who attended the ceremony.
“God bless Africa. God bless Uganda. Let there be peace and justice in the world,” Museveni said.
