“Diana Atwiine, you could say, is the most prominent “mponoka” (survivor) we have in the country,” he said.
“I did not attend their wedding but I am happy that I am now meeting her husband for the first time,”
Dr Atwiine, according to the president survived being slaughtered along with her family by President Milton Obote’s forces.
Her father a cattlekeeper in the Ngoma-Luwero area, was among the people who supported Museveni’s rebel forces at the time.
“Sadly, the soldiers from the Obote regime came and killed him and his three wives. Each of the three wives had eight children, and they were all killed as well,” Museveni recalled.
“Diana’s mother was the one who hid with Diana and her remaining siblings, and that’s how they managed to survive.”
At the end of the war, Museveni took on young Atwiine’s care, paying her school fees at Bweranyangi Girls, Namagunga and Mbarara University of Science and Technology where she studied Medicine.
Atwiine currently serves as one of President Museveni’s personal doctors.
Museveni told guests that Atwiine was “easy to support” because she was a bright student in school.
As a gift to mark their anniversary, the president gifted 50 Ankole cows to the family.
Emotional Atwiine
On her part, Mrs Atwiine broke down in tears as she thanked President Museveni and First Lady Janet for becoming her parents when she lost her own.
Atwiine said she decided to mark 25 years in marriage to set a good example for her children.
“We want our children to know that family comes first. Whatever we are and whatever success we get if you don’t have a stable family you are not rooted,” she said.
