Museveni 4th term swearing in: Live Updates

12:20 EAT: Twenty one gun salute as national anthem is sung after Museveni swears in.

12:17 EAT: The Key symbol which has been used in the past during swearing in as one of the instrument of power was this time round not used.

12:15 EAT: Chief Justice hands over to Museveni instrument of power, constitution, presidential flag, national anthem, court of arms, public seal amid deafening applause. He departs the swearing in dias.

12:12 EAT: Museveni takes seat to be administered oath of allegiance and president. There is deafening applause from supporters. Museveni is accompanied by his wife Janet, dressed in black skirt and red blouse.

Museveni begins swearing in at 12:20pm, promises to uphold, protect and preserve the constitution as well as welfare of Ugandans. Crowd erupts in applause. He then signs on both oaths.

12:00 EAT: President Joseph Kabila of the republic of Congo arrived at 11:29am. This is a significant figure looking at Uganda’s strained relation between 1997 to 2003 during which Ugandan army invaded Congo.

President Kabila took office in January 2001, ten days after the murder of his father and DRC president Laurent-Désiré Kabila. On November 27, 2006, Joseph Kabila was confirmed as President following the July 2006 general election.

Both Uganda and Congo have been accusing each other of aiding rival renegade elements in either countries.

The last time the presidents met was at Mpondwe in Western Uganda. The appearance in person of President Kabila may signify a thawing in bilateral relations between Uganda and Congo, and particularly the two principals Kabila and Museveni.

Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived at 11:32am and was followed by Ethiopian minister Meles Zenawi who came in at 11:40am

Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe finally arrives at 11:53am and a smiling Museveni steps forward to receive him on the red carpet. He takes the seat to Museveni’s right, just next to Chief Justice Odoki. Other guests roar in applause.

Formal swearing-in ceremony begins with singing of East African and Uganda’s national anthems

11:05 EAT: Almost all the guests are accompanied by presumably their spouses according to Journalist, Tabu Butagir. Nigeria’s president Jonathan Goodluck was first to arrive at 10:30am. Gambia’s president, his Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh arrived at 10:45am shortly followed by former Kenya’s Daniel arap Moi who came in at 10:46am

President Museveni accompanied by his wife arrives at Kololo Airstrip at exactly 11:00am in a precession of many cars.

9:45 EAT: Rwanda and Egypt have been represented by their respective ministers

9:30 EAT: Nigeria’s president Jonathan Goodluck was first to arrive 10:30. Gambia’s president, his Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh arrived at 10:45 shoprtly followed by former Kenya’s Daniel arap Moi who came in at 10:46

9:25 EAT: Daily Monitor Journalist, Tabu Butagira reports that a number of guests are streaming-in including ministers and the electoral commission. But it appears we are behind schedule because from the official programme, Vice President, Prof Gilbert Bukenya and Speaker Edward Ssekandi should have arrived at 10:12am but they are not yet here.

No head of state has arrived yet. There are three mini stages, one for the president’s tent where the president will be taking his oath; it is enclosed with bullet proof side glasses, another for the press and entertainment.