Outgoing Opposition leader and Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi has condemned the arrest of Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere, urging authorities to respect due process and clarify her whereabouts following her detention by unidentified security operatives.
Nameere was arrested on Friday evening shortly after her swearing-in ceremony and celebrations in Masaka City.
Witnesses say she was intercepted along Circular Road by plain-clothed operatives and taken away in a white Toyota Hiace commonly referred to as a “drone van”, with no immediate disclosure of her destination.
The incident reportedly unfolded as she travelled in a convoy with supporters after officially taking office. In the ensuing commotion, the group was dispersed, with some accounts alleging that several supporters were injured.
Her security detail was also reportedly overpowered and disarmed during the operation.
By Saturday morning, her location remained unknown, with no official communication from security agencies confirming the reasons for her detention or where she was being held.
Reacting to the developments, Joel Ssenyonyi said the incident reflects a broader concern over how state power is exercised in politically sensitive cases, warning that failure to uphold the law affects all citizens equally.
“Whenever it rains, we all get wet. Also, there are no survivors in a sinking boat! That’s what happens when the rule of law is disregarded. Whenever we speak out condemning abductions, colleagues in NRM say it’s arrests and not abductions,” Ssenyonyi said.
He called for urgent clarification on Nameere’s whereabouts and urged that her rights as a suspect be respected if she is being held in custody.
“I hope the family and lawyers of the latest victim get to trace her, and that her rights as a suspect get to be respected…the same thing we’ve always demanded for Opposition leaders and supporters who are often abducted,” he added.
The arrest has triggered renewed political debate, with opposition voices calling for transparency and adherence to legal procedures in all security operations involving public figures.