Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere has broken her silence over her recent arrest, describing the incident as politically motivated and based on what she termed as “false grounds,” while also revealing that President Yoweri Museveni personally intervened to secure her release.
Speaking during a Thursday interview, Nameere recounted the dramatic events surrounding her arrest on May 16, when armed security operatives intercepted her convoy at Hotel Brovad in Masaka City.
The legislator was reportedly forcefully taken into custody by operatives traveling in an unmarked vehicle, commonly referred to as a “drone,” sparking concern among her supporters.
“I was arrested on false grounds, but the President later intervened and rescued me,” Nameere said, offering her first detailed account since the incident.
“When people started pointing to me as minister material, many began fighting me.”
Her remarks point to underlying political tensions, with the MP suggesting that her rising profile may have triggered resistance from rivals within political circles.
While she did not name specific individuals, Nameere described her critics as “political tormentors” and urged them to reconsider their actions.
“My political tormentors should sort themselves out and join us, and I forgive them,” she added, striking a conciliatory tone despite the ordeal.
The arrest, which drew widespread attention in Uganda’s political space, was reportedly linked to allegations that Nameere was attempting to influence the process surrounding the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
However, she was later released without any formal charges.
In the same interview, Nameere, who has since been named Minister of State-designate for Local Government, took a firm stance against corruption, issuing a stern warning to public officials engaged in graft.
“You should repent as early as possible, or else we are coming for you,” she cautioned, signaling a tough approach to accountability in her anticipated new role.
Her statements come at a time when scrutiny over governance and public accountability remains high in Uganda, with corruption continuing to dominate public discourse.
Nameere’s experience and subsequent remarks are likely to fuel further debate over political rivalry, state power, and the use of security agencies in managing political disagreements, even as she positions herself as both a victim of political targeting and an advocate for reform within government ranks