KAMPALA — In a rare blend of fatherly warmth and military salute, President Yoweri Museveni celebrated Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 52nd birthday by revealing the charming, cross-cultural origin of his son’s favourite nickname: “Muogi.”
The name, Museveni shared, was born not from the battlefield, but from the linguistic struggles of their former neighbour in exile—the late Acholi General Tito Okello. Unable to pronounce the “z” in Muhoozi, Okello’s traditional Acholi tongue transformed it into “Muogi,” a moniker that stuck so firmly it eventually extended to the First Lady, who became “Maama Muogi.”
The “Earth-Shaker” of the Resistance
Beyond the family jokes, the President struck a powerful tone, describing Muhoozi and his siblings as children who “were born in the resistance and grew up in the resistance.” He recalled teasing his children that they would be “earth-shakers” because their birthdays coincided with monumental historical shifts—Muhoozi’s 1974 birth landing exactly as the Portuguese African Empire began to collapse.
A More Lethal Force
The President used the milestone to formally credit the General for significant structural shifts within the national security architecture:
- Military Modernisation: Museveni hailed Muhoozi for “increasing the lethality” of the UPDF.
- Anti-Corruption Crusade: He singled out the General’s role in aggressively tackling graft within the ranks of the Army.
- Discipline & Continuity: The President thanked First Lady Janet Museveni for raising their children during the volatile bush war years (1981-86), moulding them into the “career and family” pillars they are today.
Responding to the glowing tribute, Gen. Muhoozi expressed his gratitude to his father, his colleagues in the UPDF, and his supporters, noting that the global expressions of love “mean a lot” as he marks over half a century of life rooted in the Ugandan struggle.
“All your expressions of goodwill, love and appreciation mean a lot to me. God bless you all and God bless Uganda,” Muhoozi said.
Museveni’s message:
Greetings fellow Ugandans, fellow Africans and especially, the Bazzukulu. I am sending out this message to, first of all, thank God for giving Maama and myself our wonderful children: Muhoozi (Muogi), Natasha (Kukuru), Patience (Pusi) and Kyaremeera (Kyinini)., protecting them and prospering them.
Secondly, I want to thank Maama for looking after them especially for the years 1981-86 when she was the only parent near them. Thirdly, I salute the children for going through the school systems and branching out successfully in the different fields of life – family, career, etc.
Fourthly, I thank the Ugandans and some of the Africans for standing with and supporting our family and Political movement in the various endeavours we have been undertaking with them. On this occasion, on the 24th of April 2026, I want to congratulate Gen. Muhoozi (Muogi) on this 52nd birthday. These children, in particular Muhoozi, were born in the resistance, grew up in the resistance, and, in various ways, have made significant contribution to the resistance. Gen. Muhoozi has made significant contribution to fighting corruption in the Army and increasing the lethality of the UPDF.
When they were young, I used to tease them that they will be earth-shakers because, by some coincidence, they were all born on or near very important historical dates. Muhoozi was born on the 24th of April, 1974 at Ocean Road Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam. Maama had made arrangements with a Dutch lady that was staying in the flat above ours in Kurasini to drive her to hospital when the time for okurumwa (birth pains) came. In the night of the 23rd of April, Maama sent me to call the Dutch friend. The Dutch friend drove her to the Hospital.
The following morning, I went to the Hospital and Muhoozi was already born. I spent the day with them and came back to the flat at night. The following morning, I rang comrade SamoraMachel, the Revolutionary leader of the Mozambique Liberation to tell him about our happy family news. He picked the phone, but advised me to ring him another day because on that day he was busy following the great news of the anti-fascist Revolution that was going on in Portugal that led to the collapse of the 500years Portuguese African Empire.
Amazing- regarding the double blessings to we the freedom fighters- the 24th and 25th of April, 1974. Natasha was born on the 12th of March 1977 at Moshi Christian Centre Hospital. That is the day in 1984, I departed from our base at Kawumu Luwero on the last external mission to get guns from the late Muammar Gaddaffi. That, eventually decisively contributed to the NRM victory in 1986.
Patience was born on the 9th of May,1978, at MuhimbiliHospital- Victory Day in Europe, against Hitler and Kyaremeera was born on the 30th of June, 1980, the same date as the historic independence of Belgian Congo (DRC) IN 1960. I share with our fellow Ugandans and Africans our little jokes in the family. Congratulations Muogi, his wife, children and siblings on this milestone.
I always call Muhoozi, Muogi. It is because our neighbour in Upanga, Dar-es-Salaam, was Mzee Tito Okello (Gen). Being a traditional Acholi, he had a problem with pronouncing the “z” in Muhoozi’s name. Hence, the Muogi and Maama Janet also became Maama Muogi.
Tito’s wife was safely Maama Jennifer because we had no problem pronouncing Jennifer, the sister of Okello Oryem. Unfortunately, Jennifer died some years ago.
Signed: Yoweri K. Museveni
Ampa (Grandpa)
