In a message posted on social platform X, the president wrote: “Today, the 24th of June, the Managing Director of “the Museveni Incorporated”, the Matriarch of the Museveni group, the Mother, the Grandmother, my God-given comrade-in-arms of nearly 51 years, my dear wife, Maama Janet Kainembabazi Kataaha Museveni, has turned 76 years of age.”
“Praised be the Lord who helped us to navigate through so many challenges and gave us so many blessings. I refer to her as the Managing Director because while all of us are shareholders and Directors in the Museveni Incorporated, she is the Managing Director,” he said.
President Museveni appreciated his wife for her unique role in their family story, especially between 1981 and 1986, when he had to send her into exile with their young children: Muhoozi, Natasha, Patience, and Diana—Muhoozi was 6 years old, and Diana was 6 months old.
The President noted that his wife, Maama Janet had to carry all the burden until they relocated to Sweden, where the system was very friendly.
“While our family had been in exile before (1971-1979), I had been with them in Tanzania-coming and going.”
“However, during this time, she was with the children alone in Kenya and Sweden. Although by this time, I was well known and I had many African friends (SamoraMachel, Shamuyarira, Mwammar Gaddaffi, friends in the USA, Arap Moi, etc.), systems do not always work well,” Museveni wrote.
He added that: “I salute the Swedish for supporting my family between 1983 and 1986. I salute Ambassador Mirjam Blaak for making the arrangements. I thank God who gave me Maama Janet to give me a family even as I wandered around as a freedom fighter.”
He also said that in the social-political areas of Uganda, God has used Mama Janet to support the orphans (UWESO), as a leader in the Ministry of Karamoja and the Ministry of Education and as an MP for Ruhaama.