Until she went against her husband’s advice in 2006 not to stand in Ruhaama, Janet Kataha Museveni had never wielded real political power.
She was the archetypal first lady, content to stay in the background and fearful of getting in the way of her powerful companion, President Museveni.
In the first two decades of her husband’s presidency (1986 to 2006), Janet deliberately maintained a low political profile, focusing on charitable work.
In late 1986, she founded the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), a non-governmental organization aimed at supporting war-related and HIV/AIDS-affected orphans across Uganda. UWESO, inspired by her time in exile. In fact when one talked about UWESO, Janet’s name instantly came to mind.
President Museveni wanted it to stay this way. He reportedly preferred that Janet focus on her charitable work rather than enter the political fray, possibly to shield her from the scrutiny and criticism inherent in Ugandan politics.
Her public persona was that of a supportive spouse, a fashion icon with her signature low-cut “Janet” hairstyle, and a devout Christian whose faith guided her philanthropy.
Yet, beneath this genteel image, Janet was quietly building a network of influence through her NGOs and advocacy, laying the foundation for her political ascent.
Breaking the shell
She finally struck. In November 2005, she announced she would contest in Ruhaama, Ntungamo district, in the 2006 election.
This decision marked a significant departure from her husband’s earlier stance that she avoid active politics. Reports suggest that Museveni had tried to talk her out of standing but she persisted claiming “God had commanded her to stand.”
Running against Augustine Ruzindana, a formidable opposition candidate from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and a former ally-turned-critic of Museveni, Janet’s candidacy raised questions about whether her move was strategically motivated to neutralize a political threat to her husband.
Despite these speculations, she defeated Ruzindana overwhelmingly. In one stroke, Janet demonstrated she was able to mobilize support and establish a political base independent of her husband’s direct influence.
Yet her entry into politics was not without controversy. Her education credentials were questioned, with critics noting her lack of formal qualifications at the time.
She later addressed this by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Makerere University in 1997, a Diploma in Early Childhood Development from Sweden, and a Master of Arts in Organisational Leadership and Management from Uganda Christian University in 2015.
Her parliamentary tenure was marked by initiatives reflecting her born-again-driven values, such as proposing a national prayer day, which was swiftly adopted, signaling her growing influence.
In 2009, Museveni accepted Janet’s growing influence and appointed her State Minister for Karamoja Affairs.
The president’s first choice for the Karamoja post, Col Tom Butiime had rejected the appointment because he thought it was beneath him.
Janet’s swift acceptance of the Karamoja job further solidified her growing political stature. She hit the ground running and initiated a number of development projects that turned around the poverty-stricken sub region. The region became a mecca of sorts for civil society organizations, academics, policy analysts and the media all seeking to analyse Janet’s impact.
Yet it was her appointment in 2016 as Minister of Education and Sports that marked Janet’s transition from a peripheral figure to a central player in government and local politics.
Political Force
Over the past decade, Janet has emerged as a powerful political figure, often described as having a direct hand in some public appointments and policy decisions.
As minister of Education and Sports she has tried to reform Uganda’s education system as evidenced by the recent implementation of the lower secondary school curriculum.
Her influence extends beyond her ministerial role, with reports suggesting she plays a significant role in shaping government appointments, reflecting her status as a power broker in her own right.
It must be said that Janet’s political ascent has not been without challenges but her ability to navigate these controversies while maintaining her political and social influence points to her undeniable resilience.
At 77, she continues to embody a blend of compassion, faith, and political ambition. While her closeness to her husband remains a pillar of her influence, her ability to assert her independence through philanthropy and politics marks her as a formidable figure in her own right.
She is no longer defined solely by her husband’s legacy.
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