President Yoweri Museveni was officially sworn in for another term on Tuesday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in a ceremony marked not only by political significance but also by the conspicuous absence of First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.
For the first time since the 1996 election, the First Lady did not attend the presidential swearing-in, a development that immediately triggered speculation among attendees and on social media platforms.
Her absence stood out in a ceremony that traditionally features her close presence beside the Head of State.
President Museveni arrived at the dais accompanied by his daughter, Natasha Karugire, who stood to his left as he took the oath of office.
The visible change in the usual family arrangement further fueled public curiosity about the First Lady’s whereabouts.
At Kololo, murmurs among the crowd reflected growing uncertainty, prompting a rare public moment of reassurance from the Church.
The Dean of the Province of the Church of Uganda, Rt Rev Sheldon Mwesigwa, who is also the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, led a prayer for the First Lady’s health during the proceedings.
In his remarks, Bishop Mwesigwa appeared to address concerns directly, stating that Janet Museveni had “healed and recovered,” a declaration that drew attention amid ongoing public speculation.
While no official statement has been issued from State House regarding her absence, the Bishop’s comments were widely interpreted as an attempt to calm rising concern about her condition.
The development overshadowed parts of the ceremony, with attention shifting briefly from the swearing-in itself to questions surrounding the First Lady’s health and absence from one of the country’s most significant state events.