This post is part of our special coverage Uganda: Walk to Work Protests. Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn in Thursday for the fifth time after winning the February 18 elections with 68 percent. The ceremony was graced by a few African presidents, from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Nigeria. Museveni’s swearing in was overshadowed by the arrival of his arch rival and three time challenger Dr. Kizza Besigye who had been flown to Nairobi for medical treatment from injuries sustained during a violent arrest last month. Arch rival's arrival Dr. Besigye was almost stopped from coming back to the country the day before the ceremony. Blocked from boarding a Kenya Airways flight after reports that the Uganda government would not allow the airline to land if he was on board, Besigye was later offered a seat on another evening flight which he declined. Together with his wife and former confidante Museveni Winnie Byanyima, they chose to come back on the very day of the swearing in ceremony. The army used used tear gas and canes to try to disperse crowds gathered along Entebbe Road as they waited for Besigye. The military had to make way for foreign dignitaries to be able to access the road to the airport as a journey that usually takes about a hour, took Besigye and his crowd of supporters over six hours to make it to the city. Ugandan riot police ready for action. Photo by @oletan. Reactions from the people Earlier on Tuesday, police had sprayed pink paint on protesters who were trying to access the Constitution Square in Kampala, a place government has alleged Besigye wanted to turn into a Tahrir of sorts. Popular hashtags for the day were #uginauguration, #Besigye, #Walk2work and #Uganda. Ugandans thronged to Twitter and Facebook to air their views and report events of the day. @27sunshineave wondered what’s special about the fifth time of swearing in: #ugandainauguration ah ah, I'm bored..how is a man swearing in for the 5th time new to me… Where's #besigye at?? Now that's interesting Even as the ceremony went on, many Ugandans like @irrynne still wondered why billions of shillings were being spent for President Museveni's fifth swearing in ceremony: So billions of taxpayer money just to see him do it a fifth time? #ugandainauguration #BS @Elirri pointed out a little stammering by the president as he sworn in: Museveni stammers while swearing in. Isnt he sure he's the right candidate to have been sworn in??? #uganda #ugandainauguration And @cobbo3 indicated that winning a fraudulent election and beating up opponents can mess the speech of even the most eloquent of men: @Elirri Winning disputed polls and beating down rivals will mess with the speech of even the most eloquent man. #uganda #ugandainauguration @gatimo1 said that President Museveni shouldn’t have read the oath: M7 ws reading the oath!! By now, he shd know it by heart.. #ugandainauguration #uginauguration @gaetanokagwa thinks that Museveni doesn’t just have five years but ten more years to rule Uganda: The next 10 years of rule under #Museveni are going to be very interesting in #uganda. #ugandainauguration On Facebook the talk of Museveni’s inauguration was a top topic in the early morning hours. But Nobert Mao, the leader of Democratic Party leader who has been jailed for taking part in the Walk to Work protest had to dispel rumours that opposition had planned a parallel swearing in ceremony. Javie Ssozi says [Login required] the fifth swearing in ceremony was not as newsworthy as Besigye’s homecoming. Samuel Makokha used his Facebook page to give updates of where Besigye’s convoy was and how the military and police were trying to break into crowds that gathered to welcome Besigye. Dennis Muhumuza says he hopes Museveni uses the next five years to address the issues affecting the masses in Uganda. Benon Herbert Oluka feared that if Museveni’s convoy went back to the State House using the same route Besigye and his supporters were at, there was likely to be a confrontation. Others like Tony Ofungi captured videos of planes in the skies as the President was sworn in. Charles Odongtho wondered what to make of the absence of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Before the swearing in ceremony ended, attention shifted to Besigye and his convoy and so did the Twitter and Facebook users. @StoneAtwine wondered if the army top officials who were all glued to their phones throughout the swearing in were giving orders to halt Besigye’s movement: They must be giving orders for Besigye movements from EBB. “@Billynkid: Hahah top brass all on there phones. #uginauguration” Besigye convoy meets Mugabe convoy. Photo courtesy of @UgInsomniac.