President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has marked the 78th birthday of First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni with a personal reflection on their decades-long journey together, highlighting moments from their early life, political struggles, and family milestones.
In a message shared on Wednesday, Museveni described Janet Museveni—affectionately referring to her as “Maama”—as a central figure in both his personal life and the broader National Resistance Movement (NRM) history. He noted that she was born on June 24, 1948, and expressed gratitude for her life and longevity.
Museveni recalled her early years, including the loss of her father, Edward Kataaha, in 1955, and credited her resilience in the years that followed. He also reflected on their shared upbringing in Ntungamo District and studies at Kyamate, before their paths diverged amid Uganda’s political upheavals.
The President further recounted their unexpected reconnection on December 25, 1972, outside the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi, describing it as a pivotal moment that helped lay the foundation for their family life during his years in political exile and armed struggle.
He also revisited the period of the liberation struggle against Idi Amin and later resistance activities, describing the challenges faced during the early 1970s and 1980s, and how Janet Museveni played a supportive role, particularly in caring for their children during his absence in the bush war period between 1981 and 1986.
Museveni praised the First Lady for her contributions to social work, including her involvement with the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), as well as her engagement in religious and political activities in Ntungamo and beyond.
He concluded the message by wishing her continued good health and longevity, expressing hope that they both live to witness further milestones, including regional integration efforts such as the East African Federation.
The couple has four children and 15 grandchildren.
From Omugurusi Ampa to Maama Giinga.
Today, the 24th of June is Maama’s birthday, having arrived on Earth on this very day 78 years ago. The family and I myself thank God for having given us Maama, for keeping her safe during the years of orphanhood after she lost her father, Mzee Edward Kataaha, in 1955, and for prospering her in the subsequent years up to today.
In particular, I thank God for the miraculous reconnection with her on Christmas Day, 1972, outside the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi. Although we were from the same area of Ntungamo and had studied at Kyamate together in 1958, we had become disconnected by the troubled history of Uganda.
Since January 1971, we had been operating from Tanzania, fighting Idi Amin. I had indeed been involved in the disastrous battle of 17th September 1972 in Mbarara, where out of 330 people who attacked on that axis, on account of not being trained, by evening I had managed to take back only 46, including an Obote fighter known as Ageta, a good but chaotic fighter. I was now on the way to launch another effort of fighting Amin using the 100 rifles we had already infiltrated into Uganda, and the hand grenades which Rwaheru and his group used very effectively at Lubiri Quarter-Guard, Kyambogo house of mathematics teacher Karuhanga (Omuharabu), and saved me in Mbale, Maluku, House No. 49.
This is where God’s miracle came in. We had just parked in the Inter-Continental car park when I saw the Kazzoras, including Maama, entering their cars after they had had lunch at the hotel. I got out of our car and greeted them. Mr. Kazzora and his wife did not know me, but Maama Janet and Maama Jennifer Kutesa knew me from the Ntungamo–Kyamate days.
Without going into details, it is this 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. Praised be the Lord.
It is this miraculous reconnection that gave me a family of four great children and fifteen grandchildren, and I am now anticipating great-grandchildren (Abaijukuriza). Sitaane, three months ago, on the 21st of 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.
Maama has done great things in the family, especially caring for the children during the second phase of the Resistance between 1981 and 1986 when she was alone in exile and I was in the bush. She has been a great philanthropist with UWESO and has contributed to NRM politics in Ntungamo, on top of her religious work.
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.
Signed:
Yoweri K. Museveni Omugurusi–Ampa.
English 