📷 Maintain image of the African woman — First Lady

KAMPALA - The First Lady and minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has called on women to celebrate and maintain the image of the African woman by preserving their natural beauty.

She said that she agrees that it is time that African women stood up for the image of the African woman so that the world can know how they look in their natural state.  

“I can honestly tell you that somebody in the United States once told me that they had never seen real African hair, so this person said to me, so this is how it actually looks when it is natural?” she said.

She added, “I was proud to say Yes! Praise the Lord,” Mrs. Museveni said.

Cognizant of their role as African women in shaping the future of their children, Mrs. Museveni said, ‘It is my prayer that every woman will intentionally, uphold our cultural values of unity, respect, and dignity’.

State minister for ICT, Joyce Ssebuggwawo (2nd L), hands over the Global Chair of Honour Decent Africa portrait to the First Lady Mrs. Janet Museveni at the Decent Africa summit held at Serena Hotel in Kampala, on December 10, 2024. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

She noted that when African women maintain their natural looks, foreigners who visit Africa would ‘see and admire people who are proud of who they are, of their beautiful country and know that the people of Africa have something to offer to the rest of the world, not only always trying to learn what others offer with nothing to offer to the rest of the world’.

She added that the strength of African beauty was founded in the love and faith in God.

“Knowing that God purposed us to be proud of the fact that we are created in His image, therefore, when we try to change or actually abuse God’s creation, which he announced to be good, then we are actually abusing God”.

The First Lady Mrs. Janet Museveni (C), with some of the ministers and leaders, who attended the inaugural summit of Decent Africa at Serena Hotel Gardens, on December 10, 2024. (L-R) seated, Judith Nabakooba, minister for lands, Margaret Muhanga, state miniter for primary healthcare, Nabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, First lady, Joyce Ssebugwawo, state minister for ICT, and Beatrice Anywar, state minister for environment. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

She said that was the reason she strongly felt ‘duty bound to stand up proudly, boldly and to thankfully portray God’s work in the African woman, that the world may know and see it without covering it with any other cultural mockery of God’s work’.

The First Lady spoke at the inaugural ‘Decent Africa Summit’ on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. 

The summit, which was opened at Serena Hotel Gardens in Kampala, appreciated women leaders of this generation who have significantly contributed to making an impact among women and girls.

The First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni arrives at Serena Hotel Gardens where she attended the first Decent Africa Summit, on December 10, 2024. She was received by state minister for ICT Joyce Ssebugwawo (2nd L), Judith Nabakooba, lands, Beatrice Anywar, 3rd right, state minister for environment and Margaret Muhanga (2nd R), the state minister for primary healthcare. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

The Decent Africa Foundation, led by Joyce Ssebugwawo, the state minister for Information and Computer Technology (ICT), organized the first summit. 

The foundation champions the causes of cultural preservation and youth empowerment.

Decent Africa is a local organisation and a subsidiary of Hi Pipo, which spearheads initiatives to promote women's decency, empowerment, and financial inclusion from grassroots to influential levels throughout Africa.

The First Lady Mrs. Janet Museveni (R), speaks to Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda at Serena Hotel in Kampala. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

In July this year, Mrs. Museveni was voted by the same organisation as Africa's most decent First Lady. She topped the Decent Africa Magazine's 2024 ranking with a score of 8.3 out of 10 in a survey of the continent's ten most decent First Ladies.

She received her award on July 09, 2024, at Masulita Children’s Village in Wakiso district where she chose to celebrate her 67th birthday with children of Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO).

The First Lady and minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni called on women to celebrate and maintain the image of the African woman by preserving their natural beauty. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

The Nnabagereka said that Africa’s strength lies not only in its diversity but also in its rich cultural heritage. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

The inaugural summit was attended by Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda who gave a keynote address on the theme, ‘Envisioning an HIV-free and pandemic-free world: The role of women in ensuring health and educational opportunities for every child’. 

The Nnabagereka said that Africa’s strength lies not only in its diversity but also in its rich cultural heritage.

“From the traditional healers who provided time-honoured indigenous medicines that combat diseases like malaria, to the community leaders who advocated for education and built schools, our cultures offer frameworks that have long ensured resilience,” she explained.

She explained that as Africans confront health and educational challenges, they must embrace and leverage these cultural frameworks.

“We cannot ignore the wisdom of our elders, the guidance of our community leaders and the support structures within our societies that have sustained us through many crises,” she noted.

She spoke about principles of Obuntu-bulamu, which refers to the human characteristics of generosity, consideration and humaneness towards others in the community, which include unity, compassion and collective responsibility as the key to overcoming challenges in health and education.

“Through Obuntu-bulamu, we learn that we must not discard our cultural wisdom but adapt it to the modern context”.

“By bringing together positive traditional practices and constructive modern solutions, we can build communities that are both resilient and empowered to face and challenge. As women we are keepers and custodians of cultural knowledge and are therefore central to the process of integration and innovation,” she explained.

The function was attended by Camillus Namata, the chairperson of the board of directors of Decent Africa Foundation, ministers, Judith Nabakooba (Lands), Beatrice Anywar (state for environment), Margaret Muhanga (state for Primary Healthcare), and Trisha Ahwera, Miss Africa 2024. The Decent Africa director of programs and operations, Henry Lutwama said they invited diverse groups to attend the one-day summit.

These included women groups like the Mothers Union led by Roseline Kawiso Biingi, the Muslim Faith led by Hajati Safina Kenyangi, the Catholic Faith led by Sr. Rose Nelima, the Pan African Women Organisation led by Grace Kabayo, and several other individual women and youth leaders. 

Below is a picture highlight, all photos by Eddie Ssejjoba

_________________