President Museveni has paid a heartfelt tribute to First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni on her 78th birthday, praying that God grants them both the opportunity to live to 100 years and witness the realization of some of their lifelong aspirations, including the East African Federation.
In a message released on Wednesday to mark Janet Museveni’s birthday, the president reflected on their decades-long journey together, describing their reunion in Nairobi in 1972 as a “miraculous reconnection” that shaped both his family life and political journey.
“Today, the 24th of June, is Maama’s birthday, having arrived on Earth on this very day 78 years ago,” Museveni wrote, thanking God for protecting and guiding his wife throughout her life.
The President recounted how he and Janet, both natives of Ntungamo and former students at Kyamate School, lost touch amid Uganda’s turbulent political history before unexpectedly meeting again on Christmas Day in 1972 outside the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi.
According to Museveni, the reunion came at a critical moment when he was living in exile and actively involved in efforts to overthrow the regime of former President Idi Amin.
“Without going into details, it is that accidental and miraculous reconnection that enabled me to have a family even when I was still in the risky life of exile and the Resistance,” he said.
Museveni credited that encounter with laying the foundation for a family that has since grown to include four children and 15 grandchildren.
The President also reflected on a recent health scare involving the First Lady, revealing that she survived a serious medical challenge in March this year.
“Sitaane, three months ago, on the 21st of March, 2026, launched an attack on the life of Maama. However, God, using good doctors, saved Maama’s life and she is now recovering well,” he wrote.
Museveni praised his wife for her role in raising their children during the liberation struggle, particularly between 1981 and 1986 when he was in the bush and she was living in exile with the family.
He also commended her contributions to social development through the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), her involvement in National Resistance Movement politics in Ntungamo, and her religious work.
Describing Janet Museveni as a pillar of the family and a dedicated public servant, the President concluded his message with a prayer for longevity and continued service.
“I pray to God to get us to 100 years respectively so that we, among other good things, see the birth of the East African Federation, which is the insurance of Africa against any future domination or marginalization,” Museveni said.
The message offered a rare glimpse into the personal side of Uganda’s longest-serving President, highlighting a marriage that has endured decades of political struggle, exile, leadership and public service.
