Uganda declares public holiday as 35 Heads of State confirm attendance for Museveni’s 2026 inauguration
The declaration of a public holiday highlights the national scale of the event, with government framing the day as both a constitutional milestone and a moment of international visibility for Uganda.
Uganda will come to a standstill on May 12, 2026, after the government declared a public holiday to mark the swearing-in of President Yoweri Museveni for his seventh elective term, a ceremony expected to draw one of the largest diplomatic gatherings in the country’s recent history.
According to officials, the inauguration at Kololo Independence Grounds will host about 40,000 guests, including 35 heads of state, alongside 30 diplomats and representatives from major liberation movements across Africa.
Among the confirmed political delegations are leaders and envoys from the African National Congress, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, ZANU–PF, FRELIMO, and the Rwandan Patriotic Front, underscoring Uganda’s continued political and diplomatic ties within the region and liberation-era alliances.
The declaration of a public holiday highlights the national scale of the event, with government framing the day as both a constitutional milestone and a moment of international visibility for Uganda. Schools, businesses, and government offices are expected to close as citizens prepare for the high-security ceremony.
The large attendance of heads of state is also being viewed as a diplomatic statement, reinforcing Uganda’s regional influence and its role as a key host of continental political events. The government says the occasion will showcase stability, continuity, and Uganda’s expanding diplomatic footprint.
With preparations intensifying, Kampala is expected to witness heightened security and logistical arrangements as it hosts one of Africa’s most attended inauguration ceremonies in recent years.
