Sunday, 05 February 2012 03:17

PRESIDENT Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn in yesterday to commence his fourth elective term as President at a function witnessed by eight presidents, a huge crowd and representatives from 20 other countries.

At the colourful ceremony held at Kololo Independence Grounds, Museveni was ushered into office with a 21-gun salute whose bang echoed over the capital Kampala and the suburbs.

The fanfare also included an impressive guard of honour by the armed forces, a fly-past by fighter jets and various musical shows.

Museveni, who emerged victorious in the February 18 polls, vowed to uphold the Constitution, defend the national wealth and promote the welfare of Ugandans.

He urged the opposition not to act desperate and offered to serve all Ugandans, including those who did not vote for him.

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, with the assistance of the head of Public Service and secretary to the Cabinet, John Mitala.

Before Museveni took oath, the Electoral Commission chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, declared that the president-elect had fulfilled all the requisite Constitutional provisions to assume office for another term.

Kiggundu pointed out that the commission conducted elections by secret ballot, in which Museveni emerged winner with a score above the mandatory 50%.

Eight candidates contested in the polls. They were Dr. Kizza Besigye (FDC), Nobert Mao (DP), Jaberi Bidandi Ssali (PPP), Olara Otunnu (UPC), Beti Kamya (Uganda Federal Alliance), Abed Bwanika (People Development Party) and Sam Lubega (Independent). Only Bwanika attended yesterday’s ceremony.

“Fellow Ugandans and members of the international community, having conducted the most peaceful election in Uganda’s history, I present to His Lordship the Chief Justice the winner, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to be sworn in as President of Uganda 2011-2016,” Kiggundu stated.

Museveni then took the oaths, one of allegiance to the Constitution and another of loyalty to the Republic as the President.

The UPDF and Police brass bands played the national anthem as an army officer hoisted the presidential flag, to mark the start of another five-year term.

Museveni came to power on January 26, 1986, after a liberation war and has since won elections in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011.

The Chief Justice handed to Museveni instruments of power, which included a copy of the Constitution, Coat of Arms, national flag, presidential flag, lyrics of the national anthem and a public seal.

Present to witness the glamourous occasion were presidents Joseph Kabila (DRC), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria), Muhammad Abdelziz (Saharawi), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (Somalia), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) Gen. Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and the Ethiopian Executive Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Others dignitaries were the vice-presidents of Zambia and Burundi; George Kunda and Therence Sinunguruza respectively. Prime ministers Dr. Essam Sharaf (Egypt), Nahas Angula (Namibia) and Bernard Makuza (Rwanda) also attended.

Others dignitaries were former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Dr. Richard Sezibera, and the Speaker of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Abdirahim H. Abdi.

Other countries which sent envoys were Algeria, Central Africa Republic, Djibouti, Mozambique, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, India, Congo Brazzaville, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago and Sudan.

Before his inaugural speech, Museveni officially launched the national ID project as the chairman of the National Immigration Board, Wanume Kibedi handed a dummy copy of his personal card.

The President said the electronic card featured fingers prints, photo and bio-data which would make it easy to track-down wrong doers.

“Those who commit crimes will cry,” Museveni commented. He explained that the card would mark the end of “Nasser and Nkrumah Road IDs” and the habit by FDC supporters to vote thrice in Kampala elections.

Museveni congratulated his party and the opposition political parties for winning seats in Parliament, district councils and sub-county level.

He added that the landslide victory of the NRM showed that Ugandans had rejected reactionary, parochial and puppetry ideology, for progressive and patriotic ideology.

He listed his government’s achievements in the past terms as proliferation of telecommunications, introduction of universal education, expansion of surgical health services to county level, push for integration of EAC to open a large market for goods and services.

In his new term, Museveni said, the Government would prioritise power generation, roads construction, revamping of the railway, free higher education, widening the network of piped water to villages and crackdown on theft of drugs from hospitals.

On fuel prices, the President said the Government was analysing the cost of fuel up-to Eldoret and considering importing cheaper oil from Sudan.

Commenting on food prices, Museveni said they would ease with the expected bumper harvest.

Meanwhile, the Museveni who is also the chairman of the ruling NRM, has summoned the party caucus, inclusive of newly-elected MPs, to meet at State House Entebbe today at 5:00pm .

Sources said the meeting is intended to build consensus on the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the ninth Parliament which will be sworn in next week.

Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is gunning for the top seat, while the incumbent, Edward Ssekandi, has remained tight lipped. FDC strongman Nandala Mafabi is also vying for the seat.

The race for Deputy Speaker has attracted six aspirants; Wilfred Niwagaba, Peter Nyombi, Jacob Olaunyah, Fox Odoi, Odonga Otto and Geoffrey Ekanya.  Source: The Newvision