Natasha Museveni: Uganda’s First Daughter with a unique role

One prominent figure who attracts a lot of attention in Uganda is Natasha Museveni Karugire.

She is the eldest daughter of President Yoweri Museveni and is often seen with her father during public events.

Natasha holds no formal position in Uganda's government, but she has built a significant public profile through her work in fashion, film, and cultural advocacy, while supporting her father's administration.

Natasha's creative work often focuses on themes related to her family's history and Ugandan heritage and culture.

This places her in a distinctive role that blends creative entrepreneurship with political influence.

Fashion label

In 2003, she launched her fashion label, House of Karugire, which later evolved into J & Kainembabazi, after studying fashion design and marketing at the American Intercontinental University in London.

As a filmmaker, she made her directorial debut with the 2018 film '27 Guns' – a biographical drama depicting the stages of the Ugandan Bush War in the '80s, centring on her father's role in that struggle, which propelled him to power in 1986.

In 2020, Natasha authored a memoir, and later launched a podcast in 2023 focused on African cultural topics.

Natasha was born in neighbouring Tanzania in March 1976, when her father was in exile.

In a 2024 interview marking her father's 80th birthday, Natasha shared poignant memories of her family's time in exile, including in Kenya and Sweden.

She recounted how, at one point, she couldn't recognise her father during the exile period when he arrived at their home in Sweden, a moment he also later recounted.

Military drills

Natasha also spoke of Museveni's strict routine, including waking them for military drills at 5am.

Despite Museveni's strictness, Natasha said he has been very understanding and supportive of her unconventional career choice in fashion.

In recent years, Natasha often accompanies her father to various state and political events.

However, in late 2025, when asked at a press briefing about the possibility of Natasha or her sisters entering politics, President Museveni said: "She cannot join politics and start fighting over those jobs."

While Museveni ruled out the possibility of his daughters going into active national politics, his only son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is now the country's army chief and had in the past indicated interest in succeeding him as the president of Uganda.