First Daughter Natasha reflects on family, childhood

One of Natasha’s earliest memories of her father is one that reflects both affection and curiosity. As his first daughter, she admitted that her father spoiled her quite a bit. She fondly recalled the mornings when she would watch him sharpen the edge of his palms in what she later discovered was a karate practice.

These moments were an early window into her father’s disciplined nature, even as a young revolutionary who was preparing himself for the battles ahead.

However, Natasha’s childhood was not without its challenges. Her father’s revolutionary work meant that the family was constantly on the move. In 1980, they went into exile in Kenya, fleeing the political unrest in Uganda.

It was a time of great insecurity for the family. Natasha recalled the immense pressure her mother, Janet Museveni, faced during this period, constantly worried about her husband’s safety.

As political tensions in Kenya escalated, the family was forced to flee once again, this time to Sweden. Natasha reflected on the challenges they faced as children adapting to life in a foreign country. Despite the difficulties, she appreciated how children can adapt quickly, although it was not without its emotional toll.

“As a mother now, I imagine going through that, and it is tough,” she said, empathizing with her mother’s struggles during their time in exile.

One particularly vivid memory Natasha shared was of the moment she was reunited with her father in Sweden after several years of separation.

Having not seen him since 1980, she barely recognized the man standing at the door.

“He looked totally different,” she recounted. “He was so dark and tall… He asked me if I was going to greet him, and I ran to Mother.”

It was an emotional reunion that ultimately brought the family closer, though it was marked by the kind of suspicion and uncertainty that often accompanies life in exile.

Natasha also recalled how her father maintained his strict routine, even in Sweden, where he would wake them up at 5 a.m. for military drills.

The return to Uganda, however, brought its own set of challenges. Natasha recounted the stark difference in her father’s demeanor when he met the family at the airport as the newly sworn-in president of Uganda.

Dressed in full military uniform, Museveni appeared more serious and stressed, burdened by the responsibilities of leading a war-torn country.

The return to Uganda also meant adapting to a new education system, which Natasha found to be a cultural shock after their time in Sweden.

“The school system was also strange for us, because in Sweden the teachers were very nice, but at Kampala Parents, we were being beaten if we did not give the right answers which was a cultural shock,” she recalled

As Uganda celebrates President Museveni’s 80th birthday, Natasha Karugire’s reflections serve as a reminder of the personal sacrifices and challenges that the Museveni family has faced throughout his long political career.