South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of President-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is set to begin his seventh term in office.

Kiir travelled to Kampala after attending the inauguration of Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who was sworn in on Saturday for a sixth consecutive term.

In a statement, Kiir’s office said the South Sudanese leader would hold bilateral talks with Museveni, focusing on strengthening ties between South Sudan and Uganda as well as discussing regional issues.

Museveni, a key regional ally of President Kiir, won Uganda’s January 15 presidential election with 71.6% of the vote, according to the Electoral Commission.

His closest challenger, opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), secured 24.7% of the vote.

Ugandan authorities said at least 35 heads of state and government have confirmed attendance at the May 12 inauguration ceremony, which will take place at Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.

Uganda’s Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, said Museveni had invited leaders from across Africa and representatives of several political parties and liberation movements.

“These ceremonies will mark the formal commencement of President Museveni’s seventh elective term of office,” Babalanda told journalists in Kampala.

Delegations from ruling parties across Africa, including South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Rwanda’s Patriotic Front (RPF), and South Sudan’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), are expected to attend.

The inauguration comes amid criticism from some Ugandan opposition figures, who have questioned the credibility of the election, citing alleged voter intimidation and heavy security deployment during the polls.

Organisers expect between 30,000 and 40,000 guests, including foreign dignitaries, to attend the ceremony.