President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, officially took the oath of office at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in a heavily secured inauguration ceremony attended by regional leaders, foreign diplomats, senior military commanders, and thousands of invited guests. But even as the formal proceedings unfolded, attention quickly shifted to the absence of First Lady Janet Museveni, which became one of the most discussed elements of the day.
The ceremony, held under tight security in central Kampala, marked the beginning of Museveni’s new presidential term following his most recent electoral victory. Military formations, ceremonial guards of honour and cultural performances accompanied the constitutional swearing-in, which was broadcast live on national television.
Museveni arrived at Kololo shortly before midday in a presidential convoy before inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He then took both the Oath of Allegiance and the Presidential Oath before the Chief Justice, officially extending his term as President of Uganda.
In his address, the president focused on economic transformation, infrastructure development, industrialisation and agricultural modernisation, while urging Ugandans to prioritise production and wealth creation.
“I want to thank the people of Tanzania because today we are here celebrating the development and strength of the UPDF, but the man who laid that foundation was Mwalimu Nyerere,” said Museveni.
Janet Museveni misses the swearing-in ceremony
However, despite the scale and symbolism of the inauguration, public attention both at the venue and online increasingly centred on the absence of Janet Museveni.
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The First Lady, who also serves as Minister of Education and Sports, has for decades been a visible presence at major national events, including previous presidential inaugurations, independence celebrations, and state ceremonies. Her absence from Tuesday’s event was therefore immediately noticeable to attendees at Kololo and to viewers following live coverage.
Her reserved seat within the official enclosure remained empty throughout the proceedings, prompting quiet speculation among some guests even as the ceremony continued.
No explanation was provided during the event, and by Tuesday evening, neither the State House nor the Office of the First Lady had issued any official statement addressing her absence.
The lack of clarification quickly fuelled discussion on social media platforms, where Ugandans debated possible reasons ranging from official government duties to health concerns or scheduling conflicts. However, none of the circulating claims were independently verified.
Uganda’s First Family
Political analysts said the reaction reflected the symbolic importance attached to the presence of Uganda’s first family at national functions.
“In long-standing administrations, the public becomes accustomed to certain ceremonial patterns,” said Kampala-based political analyst Edward Ssewankambo. “When those patterns change, especially during an event as significant as a presidential inauguration, it naturally generates attention.”
He added that while the absence may have a routine explanation, the absence of immediate communication allowed speculation to grow.
Other observers cautioned against reading political meaning into the development, noting that senior officials frequently miss public events due to competing engagements, private responsibilities, or health-related matters.
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Despite the public conversation surrounding the First Lady, the inauguration itself proceeded without interruption. Following the oath-taking, Museveni greeted foreign dignitaries and senior officials before attending a closed-door reception with invited guests.
The ceremony attracted several African heads of state and high-level diplomatic delegations, underscoring Uganda’s regional diplomatic profile and the significance of the event within East African politics.
Opposition parties largely stayed away from the ceremony, maintaining their position that the electoral process was not credible and urging their supporters to boycott the inauguration.
By the end of the day, official government communications focused on the president’s speech and the inauguration’s constitutional significance, while questions surrounding the First Lady’s absence remained unanswered.
As discussions continued across political and public spaces, analysts said the episode highlighted how strongly symbolism, visibility and public expectation continue to shape political narratives in Uganda during major state events.
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