January 26, 2025

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How Museveni’s Daughter Was Rescued From Nyeri Primary School

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When the would-become Uganda President Yoweri Museveni President was plotting to topple then President Milton Obote, his daughter Natasha Museveni was schooling in Kenya.

Natasha was beginning her education at Nyeri Primary School as her father was spearheading guerrilla war.

An embattled Obote plotted to have Natasha kidnapped so to use her as the bait to have Museveni surrender.

Nyeri Primary School.

Museveni learnt of the scheme and on one night in 1982 she had Natasha whisked from the school at night and taken into hiding.

Then Natasha was just a standard two pupil. Teachers learnt of her absence the following day.

She was picked at 3am from the sleep to awaiting car. All her belongings including a briefcase were left behind.

In a past interview, then Principal Geoffrey Kuria said it was a big mystery and her absence scared the school fraternity.

She was re-united with her family staying as fugitives in Nairobi’s Eastlands before she was evacuated to Sweden for safety.

Obote government was ousted by Museveni in late 1985 and the following year he became the President and is still at the helm.

Natasha with her parents.

The 44-year-old Natasha is the private Secretary to the President of Uganda for Household Affairs.

She is married to Edwin Karugire, a fashion designer and consultant.

The school was established on June 11, 1949 to cater for education needs for the children of European settlers.

The mixed boarding and day school later became one of the only two national primary schools in Kenya besides Musa Gitau Primary School.

Natasha with her husband.

It has produced notable people like former head of Presidential Press Unit, Isaiah Kabira, Royal Media Services boss Wachira Waruru and Human rights activist Maina Kiai.