Politics 11 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
NRM defends inviting opposition to Museveni's inauguration; FDC opts out
The ruling NRM party has defended its decision to invite all political parties, including the opposition FDC, to President Museveni's swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing it as a voluntary gesture for unity. However, the FDC has stated it will boycott the event, citing a lack of credibility in the recent electoral process. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nrm-defends-invitation-as-fdc-insists-on-shunning-museveni-inauguration-5454920
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has explained its decision to extend invitations to all political parties, including the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), for President Yoweri Museveni’s upcoming swearing-in ceremony. NRM spokesperson Rogers Mulindwa stated that attendance is not compulsory and the invitations are a gesture aimed at fostering political goodwill and unity among stakeholders.
Mulindwa dismissed opposition claims that the 2026 General Election was neither free nor fair, characterizing such remarks as a way for opponents to manage perceived political defeats. He suggested that aggrieved parties had the recourse of legal challenges rather than making broad accusations.
Despite the NRM’s conciliatory stance, the FDC has firmly stated its intention to boycott the inauguration. Party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat declared that participating would legitimize what he described as a flawed electoral outcome. “We are not going to be part of a celebration because there is really nothing to celebrate in a win that has been forced on the people of Uganda,” Amuriat stated.
The FDC also criticized the heavy security deployment in Kampala and across the country in anticipation of the event, viewing it as a sign of insecurity rather than strength. The party maintains that while they will skip the presidential ceremony, they will attend the swearing-in of their own parliamentary members.
The inauguration marks the beginning of President Museveni’s eighth term in office. Meanwhile, opposition MPs like Moses Okia Attan expressed hope for increased accountability in the incoming Parliament, viewing the transition as a significant political juncture.