By Stephen Kalema
A couple of days ago, news filtered through that former First Lady Miria Kalule Obote was gravely ill and admitted with a chest infection.
According to her son, Jimmy Akena, the mother’s situation was still wanting.
At Watchdog Uganda, we wish her a quick recovery.
About Miria Obote
Miria Kalule Obote is the only former First Lady still alive since Uganda got her Independence.
Born on July 16, 1936 to Blasio Kisule Kalule and Malita Kalule in Kawempe, Kampala district, Miria went to Gayaza High School and then joined Makerere University.
On November 9, 1963 she got married to Milton Obote, then Uganda’s Prime Minister, at Namirembe Cathedral in a ceremony graced by Kabaka Mutesa II (then President).
However, according to Uganda Argus of October 13, 1963, Miria’s family protested the union since Obote was a non-Muganda and her father was a staunch Kabaka loyalist.
“How can I face the Kabaka to tell him that my daughter has gone to Lango,” her father reportedly asked the wife, Malita Kalule.
In 1966 Miria became First Lady when her husband, Obote became President. Obote was overthrown in 1971 by Idi Amin.
On April 11, 1979 she became First Lady of Uganda again when Obote returned from Tanzania and overthrew Idi Amin.
Obote was then toppled by Tito Okello in 1985.
Miria and her family then went into exile in Zambia where she spent 20 years, only returning in 2005 to bury her husband who died in exile as a result of kidney failure.
After a two months stay in the country, she was elected as head of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), a political party founded by her husband and fronted as its presidential candidate for the country’s elections in February 2006. She reaped 0.6 per cent of the vote which was won by President Yoweri Museveni.
With her election to lead UPC, Miria became the first Ugandan Woman to lead a major political party in the country. She is also the first woman to contest for presidency.
We profile a list of other former first ladies since her Independence.
Damalie Kisosonkole Catherine Nnakowombe
She was the first wife of Kabaka Muteesa II (the first president of Uganda). Born in 1929 to Christopher Ssenkuuma Kisosonkole and Nassozi, Nnakowombe went to Buddo Junior School, Kings College Buddo and later joined Shabon College in Great Britain – making her the first African join this college.
She met Kabaka Muteesa at King’s College Buddo when they were both students. On November 19, 1948, the two got married.
Lady Damalie is remembered for mobilizing women to revolt against the Europeans and to boycott all imported clothes from European countries and opt for the backcloth after exiling her husband (Muteesa). This rebellion was successful and forced Europeans to return Muteesa back, When Obote attacked the palace Lady Damalie was taken in Luzira prison
In 1987 Lady Damalie suffered stroke making her spend 20years bedridden until her death on Monday 12thJuly 2010 at Nakasero hospital.
(Idi Amin’s wives 1971-1979) Madina, Malyamu and Sarah
In January 1971 Idi Amin Dada entered the State House as the third president of Uganda after a military coup. Amin had more than one wife.
Malyamu.
She was the first wife to Idi Amin in 1950s and a sister to then former foreign minister Wanume Kibede from Busoga. She fell in love with President Amin aged 20. In 1966 her family accepted the bride price. But in 1973 Amin divorced her. In 1974 Malyamu was involved in accident in which she broke he leg and arm
Kay Adroa.
Amin as Muslim spotted another beautiful woman, an intelligent Makerere University student and a daughter of Reverend Adroa. Kay Adroa in 1966
Kay became Amin’s second wife and their civil marriage was held in Arua where Erinayo Oryem was the best man. However, their love didn’t last long after Amin got a third wife. In 1974, Kay is suspected to have died as her new lover tried to do a surgical abortion on her. Amin reportedly told her children that their mother was ‘bad’.
Madina.
She was a dancer in a group called Heart-Beat of Africa. It was at concert that Amin spotted her dancing and requested a word and married her in September 1972. Jokingly, Amin used to say Buganda gave him Madina as a gift appreciating him for overthrowing Obote who had attacked their palace. Madina stayed with Amin till his down fall and is the only wife that looked after Amin in hospital in Saudi Arabia till his death in 2003.
Sarah Kyolaba
She was the fifth wife to Idi Amin, and as Madina was also a dancer in a band from Masaka. By the time Amin saw her, she was 19 years living with her boyfriend Jesse Gotta. In December 1974, Kyolaba delivered a baby whom Amin claimed was his and ordered to announce his birth on radio. However, he left Kyalaba to stay with her boyfriend. However, Amin kept on picking her from her boyfriend’s home. In 1975, the boyfriend reportedly refused her from leaving home and this was the end of him. Kyaloba was moved to Kampala in grief and in August 1975 Amin married her during the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit. The wedding reportedly cost £2m with Yasser Arafat, former Palestine president acting as best man. In 1982 she left Amin and took her four children to Germany. In 1999 she avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty for allowing mice and cockroaches run over her café. Sarah succumbed to cancer on June 11, 2015 while in London.
Hannah Namuli Wamala Lula
Hannah Lule was a wife to Yusuf Kironde Lule who ruled Uganda for 98 days. She was born to Matia Wamala and Norah Nansimbwe of Kikajjo Kaseng, Nakawuka. Her husband died in 1985 while in exile. However in 1987, she returned to Uganda. Hannah died of cancer on Saturday May 28, 2011 at Nakasero Hospital and she was laid to rest on June 1, 2011 in Kikajjo, Nakawuka Wakiso district. Hannah is the only first lady who never stepped in State House. Hannah and Lule had seven children.
Irene Marjorie Kabamoli Binaisa
She was the first wife of Uganda’s fourth President Godfrey Lukongwa. On June 20, 1979, Kabamoli entered the State House until May 12, 1980.
Kabamoli was a professional nurse. In 1992 she suffered stroke and later developed breast cancer. In 2003 she died in London UK.
Esther Dyee Okello
She entered State House in 1985 after Tito Lutwa Okello, who, together with Bazilio Olara-Okello overthrew Milton Obote. Esther lived in State House for six months until the National Resistance Army (NRA) which lead by Yoweri Museveni overthrew the government.
Esther died in March 2002 at Mulago hospital after a disastrous accident she got involved in while travelling to her husband’s last funeral rites in Namokora.
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