{UAH} PRESIDENT KAGAME NOT TO ATTEND HIS FELLOW KILLER SWEARING IN

Uganda: Kagame Not Coming for Museveni Swearing in

By Nelson Wesonga

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame will not attend Uganda's president-elect Yoweri Museveni's swearing in slated for Thursday.

It is not clear why he will not leave Rwanda for Uganda to celebrate with Mr Museveni who was declared winner of the highly contested February 18 presidential elections by Electoral Commission (EC).

The Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, said Uganda expects fourteen heads of state to attend the ceremony.

The 14 are the heads of state from Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Sudan, Tanzania, Mali, Togo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Swaziland, China, Nigeria, and Russian Federation.

"Two former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya are also expected," Mr Tumwebaze says.

"Countries that will send representative are Rwanda, India, Japan, Germany and other guests from East African Community."

Mr Kagame and Mr Museveni once worked together - during the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war between 1980 and 1986.

Mr Kagame later served as the head of the Uganda's military intelligence.

He left Uganda for the United States of America for even more military studies and later, in the early 1990s, for his homeland, Rwanda where he later rose to the presidency.

Mr Museveni's swearing in will take place at Kololo Airstrip Ceremonial Ground.

The day's programme will begin at 7am - with the arrival of the invited guests.

These will include the 375 out-going as well as the in-coming 458 Members of Parliament, political party leaders and the former presidential candidates.

Also expected are delegations from Uganda's 117 districts, members of the diplomatic corp, religious leaders, traditional and cultural leaders, members of the academia, and the business community.

The main celebrant, Mr Museveni, and the First, Janet Kataha Museveni, will arrive at the airstrip at 10:40am.

Electoral Commission (EC) chairman, Badru Kiggundu, will invite and introduce to the gathering the president elect; Dr Kiggundu will read a proclamation.

He will thereafter invite the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, to administer the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of President to the president elect.

The Chief Registrar will then guide the president elect into taking and signing the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of President.

Thereafter, the Chief Justice will present to the President the instruments of power which include the 1995 Constitution, the National Flag, and the Presidential Standard flag, the National Anthem, the National Court of Arms and the Seal.

Thereafter the President will take the Presidential Salute, inspect a Guard of honor before introducing the visiting Heads of State and addressing the public.

The President and the visiting delegations will then leave Kololo for the Commonwealth Speke Resort, Munyonyo for a state luncheon.

The members of the public who will remain at the Kololo Airstrip will be served with drinks and lunch.

Dr Kiggundu, the chairperson EC on February 20 declared Museveni winner of the February 18 presidential election.

According to the EC, Museveni won 60.8 percent of the vote, while the Forum for Democratic Change's candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, polled 35.4 per cent.

Mr Tumwebaze said may 12 swearing in ceremony is a statement and a confirmation of the people's will. It is the final destination of a journey that was launched on 3rd of November 2015, when the Electoral Commission of Uganda nominated different candidates vying for the office of President. All Ugandans, therefore, are invited to Kololo Ceremonial Ground to witness this momentous occasion in our democratic process. There will be performances from several cultural and entertainment groups to bring out the beauty of our rich national heritage." - Mr Frank Tumwebaze, Minister in Charge of the Presidency

EM

On the 49^th Parallel          

                 Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
                    Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"