African first ladies who were neck-deep in their husband’s affairs and got into trouble

Janet Museveni

Janet Museveni has been the first lady of Uganda since President Yoweri Museveni took office in January 1986.

Apart from being the first lady, she has also served in various positions, including the Minister of Education and Sports, Minister of Karamoja Affairs, and the Member of Parliament for Ruhaama County.

Janet, who currently serves as the Minister of Education and Sports, made headlines earlier this year after she issued a directive ordering all head teachers in public schools across the country to provide students with President Museveni’s autobiography titled “Sowing the Mustard Seed”. Local activists faulted the directive saying it was a plan by the First Lady to manipulate and indoctrinate the youth.

Also, in 2016, three weeks after he was sworn in as President of Uganda for his fifth consecutive term, Museveni announced his new cabinet of 80 ministers on Monday, appointing his wife Janet as the new education minister. Many Ugandans criticized Janet’s appointment, even using social media to question her eligibility to run such an important docket.

Others questioned the rationale behind appointing the First Lady to a ministerial position in an already bloated cabinet.