Uganda President Yoweri Museveni with her daughter Natasha Museveni Karugire …..Photo/courtesy
By James Wekesi(CG)
KAMPALA, Uganda
Natasha Museveni Karugire has spent her life navigating the intersection of East African history and modern African art, carving out a distinct identity as a designer, filmmaker and author despite growing up in the shadow of the Ugandan presidency.
Born in exile on March 12, 1976, in Tanzania, Karugire is the eldest daughter of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Her early childhood was defined by displacement, with her family moving between Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden before returning to Uganda in 1986 when her father took power.
Instead of entering politics, Karugire pursued the creative arts, studying fashion design and marketing in London.
In 2003, she founded House of Karugire, a fashion brand that integrated traditional Ugandan aesthetics with contemporary designs, helping spark a broader appreciation for domestic textiles and cultural pride.
Her creative focus later shifted to visual storytelling.
She directed “27 Guns,” a feature film chronicling the guerrilla war that brought her father to power and has since produced several historical documentaries aimed at preserving Uganda’s national heritage.
In 2020, she expanded her portfolio into literature with the release of her memoir, “What’s in a Name: Kainembabazi – Reflections of the Daughter of the Savannah,” which detailed her childhood in exile and personal family reflections.
Mrs Karugire is married to Edwin Karugire, a prominent Ugandan lawyer and businessman, with whom she has children.
Colleagues and local media frequently note that she maintains a low-key public profile, focusing her public engagements almost exclusively on cultural preservation, business and creative industry development.
Ends/Wekesi
