Museveni extends 30-year rule, sworn in for fifth term

Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a fifth term in office.

During the inauguration ceremony in the capital Kampala, the 71 year old leader was handed the instruments of power, that is, the constitution, the coat of arms, the flag and the shield and sword. 

H.E. .KagutaMuseveni swearing-in at Kololo independence grounds #M7SwearsIn pic.twitter.com/7z7dwjxYSB

— Uganda Media Centre (UgandaMediaCent) May 12, 2016

Museveni inspected a guard of honour amidst cheers from the crowd.

Several heads of states including Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and Tanzania’s John Magufuli attended the ceremony.

Museveni who has been in power for the last three decades since 1986 won the February presidential polls after garnering 60.7 per cent of the total votes cast.

Meanwhile, the country’s main opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested on Wednesday after he went to central business district with his supporters after swearing himself in as a president.

Besigye who came second in the polls denounces Museveni’s victory and claims the results were flawed.

His frequent arrests have often attracted the eyes of the international community who accuse the government of harassment.

On the other hand, Museveni has defended the arrests of Besigye insisting it was a preventive measure to ensure that he does not cause chaos.