Janet Museveni Misses First Swearing-In Since 1996 as Bishop Says She Has Recovered
Updated
Updated · Uganda Observer · May 12
Janet Museveni Misses First Swearing-In Since 1996 as Bishop Says She Has Recovered
4 articles · Updated · Uganda Observer · May 12
Janet Museveni was absent from President Yoweri Museveni’s oath-taking at Kololo—the first time since the 1996 election she missed the ceremony—while daughter Natasha Karugire stood beside him.
Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa publicly prayed for the first lady and said she had “healed and recovered,” offering the clearest statement yet on an illness that had fueled weeks of speculation.
State House had largely stayed silent on her condition, and the information vacuum drove online rumors and misinformation about the education minister’s health.
That speculation led to legal action against journalist Arnold Anthony Mukose, who was charged with publishing false information alleging Janet Museveni had died before later being granted bail.
Her absence drew unusual attention because Janet Museveni has been a constant political presence since the 1980s and was highly visible during the 2026 campaign.
As Uganda's presidential jet sits in the US, what is the real story behind the First Lady's mysterious public absence?
Why was a journalist jailed for reporting on Uganda's First Lady's health after she vanished from public view?