By Ben Musanje
A celebratory mood filled the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) grounds on Wednesday as Gen Z for Gen 7, a youth pressure and advocacy group aligned to the National Resistance Movement (NRM), led hundreds of supporters in marking the 78th birthday of First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni.
The colourful event, characterized by sports activities, tributes, cake cutting and messages of appreciation, coincided with a revelation by President Yoweri Museveni that the First Lady recently survived a serious illness and is now recovering.
In a lengthy birthday message posted on his X account on June 24, 2026, the President disclosed for the first time that Janet Museveni suffered a major health challenge on March 21, 2026, but credited God and medical professionals for saving her life.
Museveni said that three months earlier, on March 21, 2026, the First Lady had faced a serious threat to her life. He noted that the date held special significance for the Resistance and added that God, working through skilled medical professionals, had saved her life and that she was now recovering well.
The President did not disclose the nature of the illness. However, his remarks appeared to confirm speculation that had circulated in recent months following the First Lady’s absence from several key public events, including the President’s swearing-in ceremony and ministerial vetting sessions.
As news of her recovery emerged, supporters gathered at the KCCA grounds to celebrate what organizers described as a life dedicated to faith, service and nation-building.
The event attracted senior government officials, youth leaders and sports enthusiasts, with the Director of Women Affairs in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig. Gen. Charity Bainababo, and State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang among the guests who graced the occasion.
Sports activities formed a major part of the celebrations. A football match between the Parliamentary Football Team and UWESO Alumni ended 2-1 in favour of Parliament, while an American football contest saw Uganda Titans defeats Pearl Kobs 12-6.
Brig. Gen. Bainababo, accompanied by young ladies dressed in white T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Maama Janet at 78, Gen Z for Gen 7,” presented accolades and certificates to participants in recognition of their contribution to the day’s activities.
Speaking during the celebrations, Gen Z 4 Gen 7 National Coordinator Israel Kyalisiima said the group chose to honour Janet Museveni because of her remarkable life story and her contribution to Uganda’s social and political development.
Kyalisiima said the First Lady’s life story was particularly inspiring to the younger generation. He noted that despite losing her parents at a young age and growing up as an orphan, she continued pursuing her ideals, vision for the nation and faith-driven purpose.
He noted that despite facing personal hardships, Janet Museveni remained committed to serving both her family and country, including during the difficult years of Uganda’s liberation struggle.
Kyalisiima praised her resilience while raising her children in exile as President Museveni participated in the bush war, describing her as a pillar of strength whose contribution often goes unnoticed.
He said she had been a great pillar to the nation, a visionary leader and an individual who had positively impacted many lives, particularly those of vulnerable children and orphans.
He also highlighted her role in supporting humanitarian causes and championing the fight against HIV/AIDS, saying these efforts had transformed the lives of thousands of Ugandans.
A message delivered on behalf of Gen Z 4 Gen 7 by group member Nelly Ampeire described the First Lady as a symbol of discipline, compassion and servant leadership.
Ampeire said the celebrations were intended to honour a life dedicated to service, faith and nation-building. She noted that young people recognized and appreciated the values Janet Museveni had consistently demonstrated throughout her life, including discipline, compassion, resilience and commitment to uplifting others.
She credited Janet Museveni with making a lasting impact through her dedication to women, children and vulnerable communities, adding that her example continued to inspire young people seeking purpose and direction.
Ampeire said that in a generation searching for purpose and direction, the First Lady’s example demonstrated that true leadership is measured by service, sacrifice and the positive difference one makes in the lives of others.
Born on June 24, 1948, Janet Museveni has served as Uganda’s First Lady since 1986. Over the years, she has held several public positions, including Member of Parliament for Ruhaama County, Minister for Karamoja Affairs and Minister of Education and Sports, a position she has held since 2016.
In his birthday tribute, President Museveni reflected on their personal journey and the significant role his wife has played in their family and the broader NRM movement.
He praised her for caring for their children during some of the most challenging years of the liberation struggle, when he was engaged in armed resistance activities and she remained in exile.
Museveni said Janet Museveni had made immense contributions to the family, particularly through caring for their children during the second phase of the Resistance between 1981 and 1986 when she was living in exile while he was engaged in the bush war.
The President also paid tribute to Janet Museveni’s humanitarian work through the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), the charitable organization she founded in 1986 to support vulnerable children affected by conflict and poverty.
Beyond her charitable efforts, Museveni credited the First Lady with contributing to NRM mobilization efforts and supporting community and religious development initiatives across the country.
The President further used the occasion to recount their unexpected reunion on Christmas Day in 1972 outside Nairobi’s Inter-Continental Hotel after years without contact, describing it as a pivotal moment that shaped the family they would later build together.
Today, the couple has four children and fifteen grandchildren.
As the celebrations drew to a close, participants offered prayers and well wishes for the First Lady’s continued recovery and good health, with many describing her as one of Uganda’s most influential women and a role model whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Ugandans. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
