KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, has publicly spoken about her recovery from a serious health crisis that President Yoweri Museveni recently described as life-threatening, thanking Ugandans for their prayers and support during her illness.
In a message shared on X on Thursday, the First Lady expressed gratitude to God, her family and the wider public, saying her recovery was a testament to divine intervention.
“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.
She also acknowledged the prayers offered by Ugandans from across the country.
“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,” she added.
The statement marks Janet Museveni’s first public comments since President Museveni disclosed details of the illness that had sparked months of speculation about her health and prolonged absence from several public engagements.
In a birthday message published on June 24, the President revealed that the First Lady suffered a severe medical emergency on March 21, 2026.
“Sitaane, three months ago, on the 21st of March, 2026, launched an attack on the life of Maama. However, Sitaane miscalculated,” Museveni wrote.
He said that God, working through medical professionals, had saved her life.
“God, using good doctors, saved Maama’s life and she is now recovering well,” the President stated.
Neither the President nor the First Lady disclosed the nature of the illness or where she received treatment.
Janet Museveni’s absence from a number of official activities had fuelled widespread public speculation regarding her health.
Questions intensified following her reappointment as Minister of Education and Sports, when she was notably absent during parliamentary vetting proceedings.
At the time, some Members of Parliament reportedly proposed alternative arrangements, including virtual participation, but the matter remained unresolved, further fuelling public curiosity about her condition.
The President’s recent remarks offered the first official confirmation that the First Lady had indeed been battling a serious health challenge.
In his tribute, President Museveni used the occasion to reflect on his wife’s role in Uganda’s liberation struggle and her decades of public service.
He praised her resilience during the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war, noting that she cared for their children while living in exile as he fought in the liberation struggle.
“Maama has done great things in the family, especially caring for the children during the second phase of the Resistance between 1981 to 1986 when she was alone in exile and I was in the bush,” he wrote.
The President also highlighted her work through Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans, her political mobilisation activities in Ntungamo District and her faith-based initiatives.
He further drew a symbolic connection between the date of her illness and March 21, 1979, when resistance forces repelled a counter-attack by troops loyal to former President Idi Amin at Rugaando.
Also Read: Janet Museveni missing husband’s swearing-in, cabinet vetting raises eyebrows
Janet Museveni’s message quickly attracted thousands of responses from politicians, religious leaders, supporters and ordinary Ugandans.
Many described her recovery as an answer to prayer and wished her continued healing and good health.
For supporters, the statement provided reassurance after months of uncertainty and confirmed that the First Lady is steadily recovering from what the President described as one of the most serious health challenges she has faced.
President Museveni concluded his birthday tribute by expressing hope that both he and the First Lady would enjoy long lives and witness the eventual realisation of the East African Federation.
