In an embroidery of East African history, three remarkable women stand tall as the inaugural First Ladies who left an indelible mark on their nations.

Maria Waningu Magige Nyerere, Miria Kalule Obote, and Mama Ngina Muhoho Kenyatta weathered turbulent times, outlived their famous husbands, and forged an enduring friendship that transcended borders. Maria Nyerere, the wife of Tanzania’s founding father Julius Kambarage Nyerere, served with grace and dignity as the country’s first First Lady from 1964 to 1985.

Born on December 31, 1930, in then Tanganyika, Maria married Nyerere in 1953. A trained teacher like her husband, Maria was a steadfast partner who championed education and community development. Despite the trials of politics, she maintained a warm rapport with Miria Obote, who faced the dramatic ouster of her husband Milton Obote not once, but twice, from the Ugandan presidency.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Milton Obote, who fancied himself quite the political mastermind. In a stroke of supposed brilliance, he decided to cozy up to the mighty Buganda kingdom, convincing the revered Kabaka Fredrick Muteesa II to form an alliance between his Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Kabaka Yekka (KY).

Obote, ever the charmer, even went as far as marrying a Muganda, the fair Miria Kalule, as if to seal this grand political pact with a matrimonial flourish. Obote married Miria in November 1963. How noble of him, one might say – wooing the Baganda people through the sacred bond of marriage.

Alas, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and Obote’s political alliance proved to be as fragile as a house of cards. For, in a moment of sheer betrayal, the man turned the guns of his army against his hitherto friend, the Kabaka, sending the entire Buganda kingdom into a seething rage.

LOVE TRIUMPHS

But here is where the story takes an unexpected twist; while the political marriage may have crumbled, the actual marriage between Obote and Miria remained steadfast, weathering the storm of bloodshed and united hatred from the Baganda.

The Baganda may have loathed Obote until his dying breath, but the ever-loyal Miria never abandoned her beloved husband, proving that love, at times, can triumph over even the most tumultuous of political landscapes.

Perhaps Miria saw something in Obote that the rest of the world could not – a glimmer of humanity beneath the ruthless political operator.

Or perhaps she was simply a woman of unwavering commitment, willing to weather any storm for the sake of her marriage. Whatever the case may be, the moral of this tale is clear: when all else fails, when alliances crumble and friends turn to foes, the only true sanctuary may lie in the arms of one’s spouse.

Obote may have betrayed the Kabaka, but he could never betray the woman who, for better or worse, remained by his side. This was a curious case of Obote’s matrimonial miracle – where politics and love collided, and the latter emerged victorious; a testament to the power of the human heart, even in the face of such political upheaval.

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

After an Idi Amin-led military assault upon the Buganda’s Kabaka Muteesa II’s palace at Mengo (Lubiri) in 1966 on the orders of the then executive prime minister, Dr Obote, the former was driven into exile in England and the latter abolished the kingdoms, and Uganda became a republic.

Obote became president of the republican government of Uganda, with Miria as his First Lady. One would think that with his rival vanquished, Obote’s reign would be secure. But alas, the gods of political intrigue had other plans.

As the saying goes, what goes around, comes around; in a twist of fate, on January 25, 1971, Amin, the very same protégé Obote had relied upon, turned the tables and orchestrated a coup, deposing his former mentor and sending the once-mighty Obote into exile.

In the cutthroat world of Ugandan politics, even the mightiest can be brought low by the very allies they once trusted. Miria may have ascended to the heights of power, but in the end, she was left to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, a cautionary tale of the perils of unchecked ambition.

MIRIA’S RESILIENCE

Miria’s resilience is the stuff of legend. Forced to seek refuge in Kenya and Tanzania as her husband’s fortunes rose and fell, she found solace in her bond with Maria. It was during this time that Miria, ever adaptable, learned Kiswahili to better connect with the Tanzanian women in her circle.

When Obote finally returned to power in 1980, Miria resumed her role as First Lady, only to be uprooted again by another coup just five years later. On July 27, 1985, Obote was again betrayed and toppled by his very army commander, General Tito Okello Lutwa. Lutwa and Obote had both spent time in Dar es Salaam under the care of Julius and Maria Nyerere.

Through it all, the two First Ladies found strength in each other and in the quiet, steadfast presence of Kenya’s Mama Ngina Kenyatta. The wife of Kenya’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta, Mama Ngina served as First Lady from 1964 to 1978. Known for her discreet but influential role as a behind-the-scenes powerbroker, Mama Ngina offered sanctuary to the displaced Miria Obote and forged a deep friendship with both Maria and Miria.

Together, these three women navigated the choppy waters of East African politics with poise and resilience. They outlived their famous husbands, provided solace and support to one another, and left an indelible mark on their nations.

MIRIA AND MARIA WIDOWED AT 69

These three women share a bond that transcends the tumultuous tides of their respective nations. Interestingly, there is a striking symmetry to their lives, one that seems to have forged an unbreakable connection between them.

Miria Obote and Maria Nyerere were both widowed at the age of 69, having lost their husbands, Milton Obote and Julius Nyerere, in the months of August and October, albeit in different years.

Miria was 10 years younger than Obote, while Maria was eight years younger than Nyerere, adding another layer of poignancy to their shared experiences. But the true outlier in this remarkable trio is Mama Ngina Kenyatta, who was a full 36 years younger than her husband,
the legendary Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

Yet, despite this age difference, Mama Ngina has remained a pillar of strength and support for her two dear friends, Miria and Maria, as they have navigated the twilight years of their lives.

Perhaps it is this shared experience of loss, compounded by the peculiar similarities in the timing and circumstances of their husbands’ passing, that has forged an unbreakable bond between these three women. They have offered one another solace, strength, and a shoulder to lean on.

In a world where political allegiances can shift as swiftly as the winds, the friendship between Miria, Mama Ngina, and Maria has remained a constant. Their story is a testament to the power of genuine human connection, a reminder that even in the tumultuous world of African politics, the bonds of sisterhood can transcend the boundaries of nation and time.

POIGNANT NOSTALGIA AT KOLOLO

In June 2024, an aura of nostalgia filled the air on Impala avenue, Kololo. Maria Nyerere had made the journey to Kampala to attend the Uganda Martyrs day celebrations at Namugongo. But before she immersed herself in the solemn commemorations, she knew there was one stop she had to make – a visit to her dear friend, Miria.

As the two women embraced, their smiles radiating with a shared history, the camera captured a moment that spoke volumes. Side by side, leaning on elegant walking sticks, Miria and Maria embodied the unbreakable bond that had sustained them through the trials and tribulations of their lives.

It was a bond forged not just in the camaraderie of their shared widowhood, but in the deeper recognition that their lives had been inextricably intertwined by the political landscapes of their respective countries. For Miria and Maria, the losses they had endured were not just political, but profoundly personal.

Yet, through it all, they had found strength in the unwavering support of their third musketeer, Mama Ngina. The 36-year age gap between Mama Ngina and her late husband, Jomo Kenyatta, had done nothing to diminish the depth of their friendship. In fact, it was Mama Ngina’s steady presence, her wisdom, and unwavering loyalty that had anchored Miria and Maria.

NGINA WITNESSES TWO PRESIDENTS

And while the houses of Nyerere and Obote had produced legislators Makongoro Nyerere and Jimmy Akena, respectively, the formidable trio had witnessed the rise of two presidents from Mama Ngina’s lineage – Jomo and Uhuru Kenyatta. It was a testament to the enduring influence and impact that these remarkable women had wielded, even in the face of insurmountable odds.

As the day drew to a close, and Miria and Maria bid farewell, the image of their smiling faces, their arms intertwined, would remain etched in the memories of all who witnessed it.

These three women continue to inspire and uplift one another, knowing that they are not alone in their journeys. Their story is a reminder that true friendship can be a source of strength and comfort.