The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Kataaha Museveni, has spoken publicly for the first time about a serious health crisis that she says left her critically ill earlier this year, attributing her recovery to divine intervention and thanking Ugandans for their prayers.
In a message posted on X on Thursday, a day after President Yoweri Museveni revealed details of her condition, Mrs Museveni expressed gratitude for the overwhelming public support during her illness.
“It’s me, Janet Museveni. It is a confirmation that the God I talk about is a living God. He is not a myth, He lives!” she wrote.
“I must therefore thank Uganda, beginning with Mzee, who has prayed with the whole nation. I praise God for leading us to know Him. Thank you all for coming out publicly to pray for me. Thank you for all those continuous prayers and also for the kind birthday wishes. Thank you for letting me know just how much I am loved.”
Her remarks come after months of speculation over her health and prolonged absence from several public engagements, including parliamentary processes following her reappointment as Minister of Education and Sports.
President Museveni, in a birthday tribute published on June 24, 2026, disclosed for the first time that the First Lady had fallen seriously ill on March 21, 2026, describing it as a life-threatening condition.
“Sitaane, three months ago, on the 21st of March, 2026, launched an attack on the life of Maama. However, Sitaane miscalculated,” the President wrote, adding that “God, using good doctors, saved Maama’s life and she is now recovering well.”
He did not disclose the specific illness or where she received treatment.
The First Lady’s prolonged absence had previously fuelled public concern, including questions raised by some Members of Parliament during her reappointment process. However, no official medical details had been released at the time.
Following her own statement, Mrs Museveni’s message drew thousands of reactions online from religious leaders, politicians, and citizens across Uganda, many of whom welcomed the news of her recovery and described it as an answer to prayer.
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