All set for 2021 State of the Nation Address at 2PM

Preparations have been finalized at Kololo Independence Grounds as President Yoweri Museveni is expected to make State of the Nation address this Friday.

The event has been transferred to Kololo in order to cater for observance of the social distancing measures; the move made possible owing to the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, last year.

The changes enabled the President in 2020, to deliver his speech through the Zoom video conferencing technology from State House, to MPs at Parliament House.

This year, security has been beefed up at Kololo as guests arrive at the venue for the ceremony expected to start at 2pm.

Members of Parliament are expected from 10am, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be expected to arrive at 1pm and thr President at 2pm.

The address is in fulfillment of the Constitutional requirement stipulated Article 101 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda, ahead of the opening of the new Parliamentary session of the 11th Parliament.

Details of the issues of the address haven’t been revealed, but Mr. Museveni is expected to highlight achievements of government in the last 12 months and give a way forward to existing challenges.

The speech is also expected to tackle emerging issues such as insecurity in the country and Covid-19, that have dominated headlines over the last days.

Unlike in the previous State of the Nation Addresses where the President made physical presentations at Parliament, the event will be a ‘scientific’ one due to Covid-19.