How did chance change the life of Uganda's president? A love story that began in exile.
He recalled the memories of his first meeting with his wife
Written by: Mohammed Omran
partner Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni shared with his followers on the X platform an exceptional love story that brought him together with his wife, First Lady Janet Museveni, recalling details of their first meeting that dates back more than five decades, coinciding with her 78th birthday celebration on June 24.
By chance, in front of a hotel at Christmas... the President of Uganda recounts his love story that began in exile with his wife.
Museveni said that their story of getting to know each other began in exceptional circumstances, when he was living in political exile inside Kenya during the 1970s, after he was forced to leave Uganda due to the turbulent political situation at the time.
He explained that their first meeting was purely by chance on Christmas Day in 1972, in front of the entrance to the Intercontinental Hotel in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The Ugandan president described that moment as a true turning point in his life, stressing that a chance meeting that lasted only a few minutes later turned into a strong relationship that ended in marriage, and then into a partnership that lasted for decades during which the couple faced many political and security challenges, especially with his involvement in political work and the struggle to change the government in Uganda.
Museveni noted that during that period he was working with his comrades to prepare for the overthrow of the regime of former Ugandan President Idi Amin, which made the years of exile one of the most difficult phases he went through, but his meeting with Janet gave his life a different dimension, and became the beginning of forming a family that remained cohesive despite the difficult circumstances.
He added that their shared journey resulted in four children, and today they are grandparents to 15 grandchildren, considering that the family has always been a source of strength and support throughout the years of public service.
The Ugandan president concluded his story by noting that their 50th wedding anniversary was celebrated in 2023, when he and his wife renewed their wedding vows in a family ceremony, celebrating their golden jubilee. He emphasized that the story, which began by chance in front of a hotel on a Christmas night, has turned into a lifelong journey that has lasted for more than half a century, and still represents for him one of the most beautiful moments of his life.
