Calm but tense mood engulfs Kampala as Museveni sworn in for new term

Kampala wore an unusually calm face on Tuesday as President Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for a seventh term, with reduced business activity, light traffic and heavy security across the city.

From the usually bustling Kampala Road to the crowded streets of Kikuubo, Nakasero and Owino Market, the capital moved at a slower pace. Many residents stayed home, while others moved cautiously under tight security.

Major roads like Jinja Road, Nile Avenue and Yusuf Lule Road, often choked with traffic on weekdays, remained clear for most of the day. Patrol vehicles, police and military personnel were stationed at key government installations and junctions.

Several shops along Kampala Road stayed closed. Others in downtown Kampala opened but saw few customers.

At Qualicel Bus Terminal, trader Umar Kabugo said he had no choice but to open despite the holiday mood. “We survive on daily income and if we fail to work, it becomes difficult to provide food for our families,” Kabugo said. “Even when business is slow, we are forced to come because rent, taxes and other expenses do not stop.”

He said high operational costs, rising fuel and transport prices, and falling customer spending were squeezing traders.

“We pay a lot of taxes and transport costs have gone up. Customers also no longer buy like before because everyone is trying to survive,” he said.

Pedestrian movement in the city centre was visibly low compared to a normal weekday. Some shops stayed shut, while others operated cautiously under the watch of security personnel.

At the New Taxi Park, transport business was slow too. Many taxis remained parked for hours waiting for passengers.

“On a normal day by this time, many taxis would have already left the park several times, but today most of them are still parked waiting for passengers,” said Mustafa Kabuye, Mutundwe-Nateete stage manager. “Town service is not very active because many people decided to stay home. Drivers are likely to make losses because they cannot complete enough routes.”

Kabuye said operators were also struggling with high fuel prices and poor roads that raise maintenance costs. Only long-distance routes saw some activity.

Elsewhere downtown, casual workers and small business operators described the day as difficult.

Watch repairer Anthony Mugerwa, working near Nakasero, said he had spent hours without earning any money.