Winnie Byanyima has once again addressed her past relationship with President Yoweri Museveni, providing more context while firmly dismissing any scandalous speculations. Speaking on Next Radio, Byanyima emphasized that her history with Museveni was nothing out of the ordinary and held no political significance.
During the interview, Byanyima revealed that she had known Museveni since her early childhood.
“President Museveni is somebody I have known since I first became aware of the world; he was in my home visiting when I was maybe three years old. I have known him all my life,” she stated.
This longstanding acquaintance, according to Byanyima, was a natural part of her upbringing, given the historical and political ties between her family and Museveni. Her father, Boniface Byanyima, was a prominent politician and former Democratic Party (DP) leader, which created an environment where she interacted with influential figures from an early age.
Byanyima was responding to comments made by journalist Andrew Mwenda, who had recently referenced her past relationship with Museveni during a televised discussion about the detention of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Byanyima dismissed any attempts to link her former relationship with Museveni to present-day political debates. “I think some people assume there is some scandal or something that makes me uneasy, but they couldn’t be more wrong. This was a relationship I had many years ago, and I left it,” she said.
Although she acknowledged that the relationship had its challenges, Byanyima reiterated that it was not something that defined her. “It was a normal relationship with some challenges, and I left it. But it is not interesting for political discussion,” she stated.
Byanyima did not go into details about what those challenges entailed but made it clear that they were personal and unrelated to Uganda’s political landscape.
For those still curious about the specifics, Byanyima revealed that she would include more information about her past with Museveni in her upcoming book. However, she cautioned that this aspect of her life would not be a major focus of the publication.
“If people are so interested, they should wait for my book. But honestly, it is just one of the many events in my life,” she said.
Byanyima’s remarks came after Mwenda referenced her relationship with Museveni while discussing the ongoing detention of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye on NBS Television. Byanyima, who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and democracy, dismissed Mwenda’s approach as a diversion from more pressing national matters.
“Mwenda just thought this was an interesting angle, but it had no relevance to the discussion,” she remarked.
Byanyima’s firm stance on this matter reflects her continued focus on Uganda’s political and social issues rather than personal history. Her statements reinforce the message that while her past may be of interest to some, it does not shape her political agenda or her advocacy work today.
As speculation continues, her upcoming book will likely put many of these conversations to rest. For now, Byanyima remains committed to addressing more pressing concerns affecting Uganda, such as democracy, governance, and human rights.