Uganda’s First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, is reportedly recovering after what President Yoweri Museveni described as a serious health scare earlier this year that left her fighting for her life.
The update came as the First Lady marked her 78th birthday today, June 24, 2026, with the President sharing a deeply emotional tribute on X, reflecting on the difficult moment the family went through in March.
President Museveni revealed that on March 21, 2026, Janet faced a major health challenge, which he described in emotional language as a “spiritual attack,” but credited God and medical teams for saving her life.
“She is recovering well,” the President confirmed, expressing gratitude for what he called divine intervention and the efforts of doctors who handled her treatment.
The First Lady has been largely absent from public events since late March, including notable national engagements such as the May 2026 presidential inauguration, a situation that had previously fueled widespread speculation and online rumours about her health condition.
During that period, unverified reports and manipulated content circulated on social media claiming she was critically ill or in intensive care, prompting fact-checkers and officials to dismiss several of the narratives.
By early April, senior government figures including Brig. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso acknowledged that the First Lady had indeed been unwell, but reassured the public that she was improving and asked Ugandans to keep her in prayers.
While official details about the exact nature of her illness have not been disclosed, the latest update from State House suggests she is now in a stable recovery phase.
Sitaane, 3 months ago, on the 21st of March, 2026, launched an attack on the life of Maama. However, sitaane miscalculated. The 21st of March is a good day for the Resistance. That is when we defeated the counter-attack of Idi Amin at Rugaando (12 miles from Mbarara) in 1979.… pic.twitter.com/vnqYNIWQ1y
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) June 24, 2026
