Government has sent out invitations to all persons who stood for presidency during the February 18 elections for president Museveni’s swearing in ceremony next week, Uganda Media Centre’s executive director (ED), Ofwono Opondo says.
Apart from Mr Museveni, the other presidential candidates were Mr John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, Ms Maureen Kyalya, Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, Dr Kizza Besigye, Mr Elton Joseph Mabirizi, Dr Abed Bwanika and Major General Benon Biraaro.
These will join the twelve heads of state and five prime ministers whom the government claims will attend the ceremony. The ED however does not name them, saying “Protocol does not allow it, for security reasons…”
But he gives a hint: “some will be from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a pan–African trading bloc.”
Foreign heads of state attendance lends newly elected governments international legitimacy.
The government also expects ideologues of China’s Community Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
Last month, the government said it had sent out invitations to the United States of America President Barrack Obama.
It is not clear if the US has accepted the invitation.
It should be pointed out though that President Obama have over the last two years spoken out, generally, against presidents who influence(d) the changing of their countries constitutions to remove term limits for presidents.
Uganda’s Parliament in 2005 expunged the term limits.
The Monitor
UM– USEKE.RW
