President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday celebrated the 77th birthday of First Lady and Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni, praising her “magnificent single‑parent courage” during Uganda’s guerrilla war and her later record in politics, welfare and sport.
The thanksgiving, held at UWESO SS Migyera in Nakasongola District, doubled as the opening of a new classroom block and multipurpose hall built under the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), which Mrs Museveni founded in 1986.
“A magnificent single parent”
Recalling the five‑year bush struggle, Museveni said his wife raised their four children almost alone while he fought in the field.
“From 1981 to 1986 she was with the children in Nairobi and Sweden,” he told guests. “I thank her for being a magnificent single parent. She still found time to start UWESO to care for orphans and widows.”
The President also credited her clean record and consultative style for stabilising the Ministry of Education and earlier transforming Karamoja as minister.
“Because she was not corrupt and used collective leadership, she solved problems,” he said, adding that Uganda’s medal haul in athletics has come “under her watch.”
Faith, family and politics
Mrs Museveni thanked God “for His amazing love and faithfulness” and saluted her husband of 52 years, their children and “all Ugandans who have embraced me as Maama.”
She used the occasion to launch a new personal crusade against corruption, which she dubbed Acquired Integrity Deficiency Syndrome.
“Just as we said NO to HIV/AIDS, we must say NO to corruption,” she declared.
The First Lady recalled her own childhood hardships after losing both parents and a brother before adulthood:
“All those traumas were too much, but God saw me through.”
Museveni revealed that he initially opposed her entry into elective politics in 2006, but relented after “elders of Ntungamo said they wanted Maama to come.” He contrasted her “mature, clean leadership” with what he called the opportunism of many politicians.
Youth and jobs
Responding to a sermon by Pastor Laban Jjumba, the President urged young people to pursue local opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT instead of seeking jobs abroad. He cited Minister Fred Byamukama’s UGX 700 million annual poultry income and his own daughters’ farming ventures as examples.
Tributes
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa called the First Lady “a national pillar of prayer, love and inspiration,” thanking her for mentoring “countless sons and daughters.”
Long‑time friend Sheba Rukikaire traced Mrs Museveni’s decades of social work, from UWESO and HIV‑prevention campaigns to women’s empowerment projects and the founding of the Organisation of African First Ladies.
Guests at the function included Cabinet ministers, MPs, church leaders, Uganda Youth Forum, Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity and UWESO officials
Museveni closed the ceremony by backing his wife’s new anti‑corruption drive. “We just need warriors in the right place. The NRM and UPDF can back you up.”