President Yoweri Museveni has paid tribute to his wife, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, as she celebrates her 78th birthday, praising her contribution to their family, the country and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Museveni described Janet as a strong pillar in their family and highlighted her role during some of the most challenging years of Uganda’s liberation struggle.
“Maama has done great things in the family, especially caring for the children during the 2nd phase of the Resistance between 1981 to 1986 when she was alone in exile and I was in the bush. She has been a great philanthropist with UWESO and she has contributed to the NRM politics in Ntungamo on top of her religious work,” reads the message in part.
Museveni also used the birthday message to reveal that the First Lady has been battling an illness for the last three months but is now making a steady recovery.
“Sitaane, three months ago, on 21 March 2026, launched an attack on the life of Maama. However, Sitaane miscalculated. The 21st of March is a good day for the Resistance. That is when we defeated the counter-attack of Idi Amin at Rugaando (12 miles from Mbarara) in 1979. God, using good doctors, saved Maama’s life and she is now recovering well,” Museveni wrote.
The President expressed gratitude for her recovery and looked ahead to the future, sharing his personal wish for both of them to enjoy many more years together.
“I pray to God to get us to 100 years respectively so that we, among the other good things, see the birth of the East African Federation which is the Insurance of Africa against any future domination or marginalization.”
