Is President Yoweri Museveni a dead beat dad?
This is the four decade old question on the lips of many following sensational claims by a certain Benon Karebere that he is the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
The erstwhile unheard of bicycles repairer, who resides in Bulenga, a Kampala surburb, last week grabbed public attention with his controversial claims.
“He (Museveni) is my daddy and I am his son” Karebere ,40, who poses a striking resemblance with the Ugandan President said during an interview with Radio Simba in Kampala last week.
Karebere further claims that his mother confessed to him that indeed Museveni – who has ruled Uganda for more than three decades – is his father, while on her death bed.
According to Karebere Museveni and his mother met in 1977 in Ntungamo town, some 350km from Kampala.
MUSEVENI’S FAMILY
At that time, Museveni was one of the commanders in the Tanzanian backed troops that had invaded Uganda to oust the late dictator Idi Amin.
Karebere says his mother was chased away for bearing a child that “didn’t have a father” and he has since struggled to make ends meet.
“All I want from daddy is to show me love just like any other child of his. I (used to) write letters because I wanted it to be a secret so that he would call me. I am very sorry for coming out in the media but I am tired of suffering. I have tried to get you for long, even the shoes I have are torn. Please don’t forget me. I want two acres of land. If you don’t want to help me as your child, rescue me as a refugee. I want to go home. Daddy please,” he said in a passionate appeal to President Museveni.
Formally, President Museveni is husband to Janet Kainhembambazi, and the couple have four children, Muhoozi, Matasha, Patience and Diana.