Uganda’s First Lady, Janet Museveni, was noticeably absent from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s swearing‑in ceremony for his seventh term.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 12, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, and since 1996, Janet Museveni has consistently attended her husband’s presidential inaugurations and remained a visible figure at national events.
First Lady Janet Museveni Misses President’s Swearing In
President Museveni, 81, arrived at Kololo at around 11:00 a.m. in a convoy of more than ten vehicles and proceeded directly to the saluting dais to inspect a military parade.
Instead of the First Lady, the President was accompanied during key moments by their daughter, Natasha Museveni Karugire, who stood on his left side.
Their son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), also played a central role during the parade inspection.
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The President was flanked by elite Special Forces Command (SFC) personnel throughout the ceremony.
Lieutenant General Proscovia Nalweyiso, a presidential advisor and close associate of the First Family, said President Museveni personally informed her and others that the First Lady had been unwell but is recuperating and steadily improving.
During the ceremony, Rt Rev Sheldon Mwesigwa, Bishop of the Ankole Diocese and Dean of the Province of the Church of Uganda, also addressed the matter in his prayers, stating that the First Lady had “healed and recovered,” a remark that drew applause from attendees.
Despite these reassurances, State House has not issued a formal medical bulletin, and no specific details about the nature of her illness have been disclosed.
Uganda First Lady’s Last Public Appearance
Janet Museveni was last seen in public on March 21, during a fundraising event for the construction of a new science block at Seeta College. She has not attended any public functions since then.
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Janet’s official X account has also been mostly inactive, with her last post directly linked to her account being a ministry‑related repost on April 2, 2026, concerning an attack on a Ggaba nursery school
Reports also circulated suggesting she had also missed family‑related events in late April.
The Kololo ceremony marked President Museveni’s victory in the January 15, 2026, general elections, where he secured a 71.65% of the vote.
It featured a military parade by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), prayers, speeches, and the presence of at least 15 heads of state, as well as regional and international delegations.
The President’s new five‑year term will run until 2031, with his stated focus expected to include industrialization, regional diplomacy, and economic development.
