May 12: The Historic Date That Continues to Define Museveni’s Political Journey

President Museveni has long shown a deep awareness of history and symbolism. In that context, May 12 can be viewed as a date tied either to the consolidation of his political journey or, perhaps eventually, to its conclusion.

In Uganda’s political calendar, May 12 has become synonymous with presidential inauguration, marking the beginning of new terms for President Museveni. This year will follow the same tradition, with the President-elect expected to take the oath for a seventh term at Kololo Independence Grounds.

The persistence of May 12 as the preferred swearing-in date naturally raises questions. Is the choice rooted in symbolism, political calculation, or even personal belief? Comparisons are sometimes drawn with former US President Ronald Reagan, whose schedule was famously influenced by astrology through the guidance of his wife, Nancy Reagan.

Reagan’s 1967 inauguration as Governor of California took place shortly after midnight, reportedly to align with favourable astrological signs, though he publicly cited scheduling reasons. After surviving an assassination attempt in 1981, Nancy Reagan relied heavily on astrologer Joan Quigley, who allegedly advised on the timing of major presidential appearances and travel arrangements.

Against that backdrop, some may wonder whether Museveni’s attachment to May 12 carries a deeper symbolic meaning. Yet the explanation could simply lie in Uganda’s own political history.

On May 12, 1980, President Godfrey Binaisa was overthrown by the Military Commission of the Uganda National Liberation Front after attempting to dismiss Army Chief of Staff Brig David Oyite-Ojok. The commission, headed by Paulo Muwanga with Yoweri Museveni serving as deputy, placed Binaisa under house arrest and assumed control of the country.

Binaisa’s removal ushered in military rule ahead of the disputed December 1980 General Election. Following those elections, Museveni launched the bush war that later brought the National Resistance Movement to power.

Within NRM historical narrative, May 12 is therefore seen as a defining turning point. It exposed the military’s decisive role in Uganda’s politics and set the stage for the political conflict and armed struggle that shaped the country’s modern political order.

Former president Apollo Milton Obote, writing in his 1990 pamphlet Notes on Concealment of Genocide in Uganda, argued that Museveni opposed holding elections during the Military Commission era. Obote claimed the commission had committed itself to organising multiparty elections within 18 months after the fall of Idi Amin’s regime, despite Museveni’s objections.

According to Obote, Museveni believed Uganda was undergoing a revolution and that elections were unnecessary at the time. He further alleged that Museveni unsuccessfully appealed to Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere and Mozambican leader Samora Machel to halt the electoral process.

Naturally, Obote’s account reflected his own political perspective and longstanding rivalry with Museveni. Even so, the events surrounding May 12 remain deeply woven into Uganda’s political history and may partly explain why the date continues to hold such importance for President Museveni decades later.