Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame will not attend Uganda’s president–elect Yoweri Museveni’s swearing in
It is not clear why he will not leave Rwanda for Uganda to celebrate with Mr Museveni who was declared winner of the highly contested February 18 presidential elections by Electoral Commission (EC).
The Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, said Uganda expects fourteen heads of state to attend the ceremony.
The 14 are the heads of state from Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Sudan, Tanzania, Mali, Togo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Swaziland, China, Nigeria, and Russian Federation.
“Two former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya are also expected,” Mr Tumwebaze says.
“Countries that will send representative are Rwanda, India, Japan, Germany and other guests from East African Community.”
Mr Kagame and Mr Museveni once worked together – during the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war between 1980 and 1986.
Mr Kagame later served as the head of the Uganda’s military intelligence.
He left Uganda for the United States of America for even more military studies and later, in the early 1990s, for his homeland, Rwanda where he later rose to the presidency.
Mr Museveni’s swearing in will take place at Kololo Airstrip Ceremonial Ground.
The day’s programme will begin at 7am – with the arrival of the invited guests.
These will include the 375 out-going as well as the in-coming 458 Members of Parliament, political party leaders and the former presidential candidates.
Also expected are delegations from Uganda’s 117 districts, members of the diplomatic corp, religious leaders, traditional and cultural leaders, members of the academia, and the business community.
The main celebrant, Mr Museveni, and the First, Janet Kataha Museveni, will arrive at the airstrip at 10:40am.
Electoral Commission (EC) chairman, Badru Kiggundu, will invite and introduce to the gathering the president elect; Dr Kiggundu will read a proclamation.
He will thereafter invite the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, to administer the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of President to the president elect.
The Chief Registrar will then guide the president elect into taking and signing the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of President.
Thereafter, the Chief Justice will present to the President the instruments of power which include the 1995 Constitution, the National Flag, and the Presidential Standard flag, the National Anthem, the National Court of Arms and the Seal.
Thereafter the President will take the Presidential Salute, inspect a Guard of honor before introducing the visiting Heads of State and addressing the public. Read More
