President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, for her dedication and commitment as a reliable cadre of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“I want to salute Atwine, first of all, for studying well and secondly for being a very reliable cadre of the NRM,” President Museveni stated during a speech at the 25th wedding anniversary celebration of Dr. Atwine and her husband, Mr. Noah Kanzira, held at Lake Victoria Serena, Kigo.
Museveni described Dr. Atwine as a selfless and dedicated servant who consistently works for the benefit of Ugandans.
He revealed that during her time studying medicine at Mbarara University, Dr. Atwine would often report back on the negative sentiments expressed by professors about the NRM.
“When the NRM came into government, the elite, especially the medical group, was against us. I don’t know why. Atwine would study medicine and hear professors speak badly about the NRM in the classroom, and then she would come and tell me everything,” the president disclosed.
Museveni also spoke about Dr. Atwine’s resilience, highlighting her survival amid Uganda’s conflicts. He recounted the tragic history of her family, who were killed during the Obote regime due to their support for the NRA guerrillas, and commended her as a survivor of great catastrophes in Uganda.
“I thank God for the life of Dr. Atwine. Her father, a cattle keeper in the Ngoma-Luwero area, was among our supporters. The Obote soldiers killed him, three of his wives, and their children. Dr. Atwine’s mother hid with her and the remaining siblings, and that’s how they survived,” Museveni recalled.
The president also shared how he met Dr. Atwine and her family after the 1986 liberation war and supported their resettlement in Kiruhura.
He emphasized the importance of collective solutions, such as free education, for supporting orphans like Dr. Atwine, who he supported through her education from Bweranyangi, Namagunga, to Mbarara University.
Museveni congratulated Dr. Atwine for her strong marriage and family life, praising her for building a stable family over the last 25 years.
He also gifted her 50 Ankole cows, recognizing her as a wealth creator and a passionate farmer.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa also congratulated the couple, acknowledging Dr. Atwine’s hard work and commitment to her role as Permanent Secretary alongside Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Dr. Atwine expressed gratitude for the support she received from President Museveni and the First Lady, Janet Museveni, whom she credited for playing a parental role in her life.
She highlighted the importance of family, stating, “We celebrate 25 years to set an example for our children that family comes first.”
Dr. Atwine’s husband, Mr. Kanzira, praised her as a loving, God-fearing, and passionate wife, thanking their guests for attending the celebration.