For more than a month, Janet Museveni, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, has not appeared in public. The last time she made a public appearance was on March 21 at a fundraiser at Seeta College. She stopped posting on the same date, but on April 2 she shared a post from her ministry’s X page about an attack on a nursery in Ggaba that killed four children.
Since then, there has been no public statement from the government or her ministry explaining her absence from official duties.
The silence has fuelled speculation online, including unverified claims that she has been hospitalised. OJ-UGANDA has not independently confirmed those claims.
What is verifiable, however, is a prolonged absence from public view, missed official appearances and unanswered questions directed to state institutions.
What we know
Mrs Museveni has not been publicly seen since March 21. Her X account, which previously featured regular updates, has had only one update since March 21: a shared post on April 2 from her ministry about a deadly attack on a Ggaba nursery.
On April 1, the Ministry of Education and Sports publicly announced that she would officiate at the UVTAB Nov/Dec 2025 Assessment Results release at the UVTAB Secretariat.
A promotional graphic circulated by the ministry featured the minister herself. She did not attend. No explanation was given.
On March 28, rumours began circulating on social media claiming that Mrs Museveni was critically ill and admitted to Mbuya Military Hospital.
OJ-UGANDA has not independently verified those claims. But Lieutenant General (retired) Proscovia Nalweyiso told content creator Ruth Kalibbala in a recent interview that President Museveni had told her and others in a meeting that the minister had fallen ill but was recovering.
The same day, Patience Rwabwogo, Mrs Museveni’s daughter and head of Covenant Nations Church, announced the postponement of a thanksgiving service, which was to take place at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The church did not provide a reason, and a new date has not been announced.
A family event raises further questions
Last Saturday, President Yoweri Museveni shared photographs on X from a family introduction ceremony involving one of their granddaughters, Sasi Karugire.
Mrs Museveni did not appear in the photographs.
Her absence from a highly public family occasion has drawn renewed attention online, particularly given her prolonged disappearance from public duties.
OJ-UGANDA has no evidence that her absence from the event is linked to illness.
However, the event has added to public scrutiny over why no explanation has been provided for her continued absence.
What OJ-UGANDA asked and what happened
OJ-UGANDA contacted the Uganda Media Centre, the government’s communications clearing house, seeking clarification.
A phone call to the centre reached an answering machine.
A message was left; no response followed. A WhatsApp message was also sent. It was not answered.
Calls to these telephone numbers (+256(0)-41-4259338, Toll Free Main: 0800-100-257 and Toll Free TELA: 0800-377-771) listed on the Ministry of Education and Sports website did not go through. OJ-UGANDA sought to confirm whether the minister was on leave, unavailable or absent for medical or personal reasons.
No clarification was received.
Why this matters
Janet Museveni is not only Uganda’s First Lady. She is also a serving cabinet minister overseeing one of the country’s largest ministries.
Questions surrounding her availability are therefore not merely personal. They touch on governance, institutional continuity and public accountability.
While public officials are not required to disclose every personal matter, extended absence from official duties—particularly in a senior public office—raises reasonable questions.
In many governments, prolonged absence by senior officials is often accompanied by some form of clarification, whether medical leave, delegated responsibilities or temporary withdrawal from duties.
No such explanation has been publicly issued in this case.
What is verified and what remains unverified
Verified
- Janet Museveni’s last public appearance was March 21
- Her X account has been inactive since March 21
- She missed a scheduled ministry event without explanation
- She did not appear in publicly shared photographs from a recent family function
- Lieutenant-General Nalweyiso spoke to content creator Ruth Kalibbala about Janet Museveni
- Government communication channels contacted by OJ-UGANDA did not respond
Unverified
- Claims that she was hospitalised
- Claims about the nature of any illness
- Reports suggesting overseas medical treatment
- Claims attributed to unnamed or unofficial sources
Timeline
March 21 — Last documented public appearance and final post on X
March 28 — Illness rumours begin circulating online
March 28 — Daughter postpones thanksgiving service without explanation
April 1 — Misses scheduled ministry event with no official clarification
April 2 — Her X page shares a post from her ministry about the attack on a nursery in Ggaba that left four children dead
April 26 — Absent from granddaughter’s introduction ceremony shared publicly by President Museveni
Present Day — No public appearance or government explanation
The unanswered questions
- If Janet Museveni is simply away from public activity, why has no explanation been offered?
- And if the rumours surrounding her health are false, why has the government not addressed them directly?
- Until there is official clarification, the silence itself may continue to fuel questions.
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Editor’s Note: OJ-UGANDA has not independently verified claims regarding Janet Museveni’s health. This report focuses on confirmed public absence, official silence and efforts to obtain clarification from responsible institutions.
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