President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has declared that his new five-year term will be a “term of no sleep,” calling on Ugandans to focus on wealth creation, job generation and economic transformation.
President Museveni made the remarks shortly after being sworn in as President of the Republic of Uganda during a colourful ceremony held at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala on Tuesday.
The ceremony attracted several Heads of State, foreign delegations, senior government officials, diplomats and thousands of supporters under the theme: “Protecting the Gains as we make a Qualitative Leap into Higher Middle Income Status.”
This marks President Museveni’s seventh term in office after winning the January 15, 2026, presidential election.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama formally introduced President Museveni as the candidate who emerged victorious out of eight contenders and was overwhelmingly chosen by Ugandans to lead the country for the next five years.
Chief Justice Flavian Zeija administered the Oath of Allegiance and Presidential Oath in the presence of the Chief Registrar and the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet.
“I Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni swear in the name of the Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear allegiance to the Republic of Uganda and that I will preserve, protect and defend the constitution. So help me God,” President Museveni swore.
After taking the oath, President Museveni received the Instruments of Power, including the National Flag, the Constitution, the Presidential Standard, the National Anthem, the Coat of Arms and the Public Seal.
He also received instruments of national defence from the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, before inspecting a military parade and receiving a 21-gun salute.
In his inaugural address, President Museveni thanked visiting leaders for standing in solidarity with Uganda.
“I thank all the Excellencies who have come here, the Vice Presidents and the Prime Ministers and the Ministers, they have shown solidarity with us,” he said.
The President paid special tribute to Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya for supporting Uganda during the liberation struggle before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power in 1986.
“On this occasion, I want to thank the people of Tanzania because we are here celebrating how Uganda is developing now, how UPDF is strong and so on, but the one who gave us the foundation was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,” President Museveni said.
“Then we have got our son from Mozambique, H.E Daniel Francisco Chapo. Mozambique working with Mwalimu are the ones who helped us to build this force which you see here. Then there’s Kenya, when some Ugandans were running away from here, they went to Kenya.”
President Museveni also thanked Ugandans for voting for him and the NRM in the recent elections.
“I congratulate our party the NRM for massively winning those elections. Ugandans, thank you for voting for the NRM,” he said.
He, however, criticized violence during the election period by some opposition actors.
“I also congratulate other parties such as the DP, UPC etc that participated in the elections without using violence unlike the party of NUP and some few elements of FDC that were using violence,” he said.
President Museveni emphasized that the new term would focus heavily on wealth and job creation, urging Ugandans to actively engage in productive economic activities.
“During this term, we don’t need people to sleep and then start blaming this and that, yet we have the medication,” he said.
“The message of the NRM is of two words, wealth and job creation.”
The President said the NRM government had delivered peace, infrastructure, service delivery and expanded markets over the last four decades, adding that citizens must now play their role in creating household wealth.
“The NRM has made seven contributions to Uganda in the last 40 years. The first one is peace… second one is development in the form of economic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, piped water, railway,” he said.
President Museveni cited examples of farmers who transformed small pieces of land into successful businesses through commercial agriculture.
“Johnson Basangwa of Kamuli listened to my advice. He had a plot of 50×100 ft which he used to start rearing chicken for eggs. He is now a rich man earning more than Shs7 billion a year now but not only is he a rich businessman now, he also employs 300 people,” he said.
He also highlighted the success story of Richard Nyakana of Kabarole, who he said earns more than Shs240 million annually from integrated farming on 1.3 acres of land.
President Museveni reiterated his call for value addition and industrialization, warning against exporting raw materials.
“Exporting raw materials is a strategic blunder,” he said.
He explained that exporting unprocessed minerals and agricultural products deprives Uganda of jobs, industrial growth and higher revenues.
The President further called for stronger regional integration, reforms in education to promote practical skills, environmental conservation and citizen participation in monitoring government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Vice President Jessica Alupo congratulated President Museveni on his victory and swearing-in ceremony.
“Your Excellency’s score of 71.65 percent in the 2026 Presidential elections is evidence of the massive support that you and the NRM enjoy in the country,” Alupo said.
The ceremony also featured military displays by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, including the Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces Command and Reserve Forces.
Among the African leaders who attended the ceremony were President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, President Daniel Francisco Chapo of Mozambique, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, President Brahim Ghali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and President Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia.