Uganda suddenly became a two-day melting pot of intense diplomatic and international political activity ahead of the swearing-in of Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for a seventh term as President of Uganda on May 12, 2026.
Entebbe International Airport, whose runways had experienced low activity and long periods of silence following the outbreak of the U.S./Israel-Iran war, has now transformed into a vibrant hub, receiving close to 300 foreign guests. Most were delegations of diplomats, politicians, and businesspeople accompanying invited VVIPs and VIPs to Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony.
About 35 top foreign policy decision-makers — Presidents and their high-level representatives — were invited to Kampala against the backdrop of foreign policy negotiations between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier in the week. The three-day talks culminated in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
President Felix Tshisekedi was among the first Heads of State and Government to arrive and also among the first to depart. The earliest presidential arrivals in Kampala included South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the Prime Minister of Rwanda.
As guests streamed in, the diverse DR Congo delegation — comprising ministers, diplomats, and technocrats — concluded an MoU with their Ugandan counterparts. At the same time, fresh one-day high-level talks involving Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement, South Sudan’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, and Algeria’s National Liberation Front also got underway in Kampala.
“Kampala city has become a hub for diplomatic and regional political activity, with visiting delegations arriving to attend the swearing-in ceremony, which is billed to be colourful but tightly secured.
“Some delegations have also engaged in bilateral trade and business talks,” remarked a Ugandan diplomat in Kampala.
By midnight on Monday, May 11, 2026, President Museveni’s sixth term in office had officially expired, paving the way for his inauguration into a seventh term on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Kampala’s skyline on Monday night roared to life with a squadron of drones displaying AI-enabled visual and audio presentations highlighting Uganda’s socio-economic and political achievements since Gen. Museveni captured power from a military junta in 1986.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer were invited by the Ugandan government but opted not to attend due to domestic and global commitments, instead sending representatives.
Nick Checker, Senior Bureau Official in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, represented President Trump at the swearing-in ceremony, while it remained unclear who represented the UK Prime Minister.
Among the high-level delegations already in Kampala were representatives from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, the latter represented by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.
Unverified sources indicated that invitations were specifically extended to governments led by liberation movements or parties similar to Uganda’s NRM. These reportedly included South Africa’s ANC, Mozambique’s FRELIMO, Algeria’s FLN, Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party, South Sudan’s SPLM, Rwanda’s RPF, and the Communist Party of China. Invitations were also said to have been sent to leaders of global powers such as Russia, the United States, China, and India, as well as member states of the East African Community.
Other Heads of State and Government who attended included Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan; Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo; Brahim Ghali; Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema; Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye; Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie; and Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who represented President William Ruto.
Also present were Rwanda’s Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente, Namibia’s Dr. Kitumba Kamanya, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received loud applause from the crowd when introduced, underlining his popularity in neighbouring Uganda.
Other countries represented included the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Djibouti, Togo, Botswana, and Eswatini.
Delegations continued arriving in Kampala on Tuesday morning before the ceremony formally commenced around 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Peter Wamboga-Mugirya is the Director of Communication and Partnerships at the Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development (Scifode), and Executive Member of the Uganda Science Journalists’ Association (USJA).
