A public defence of Nation Media Group Uganda CEO Susan Nasibirwa has intensified following a heated online exchange with Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere, with senior figures pushing back against allegations made in the dispute.
Uganda’s diplomatic community has been drawn into the escalating public exchange surrounding Nation Media Group Uganda CEO Susan Nasibirwa, as Ambassador Adonia Ayebare joined former Vision Group boss Robert Kabushenga in defending her character amid allegations raised by Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere.
Ayebare, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, dismissed the personal claims circulating online, instead describing Nasibirwa as a disciplined and principled individual from their shared time at Makerere University.
“I was a classmate of Susan Nsibirwa at Mass Communication Makerere for five years,” Ayebare said. “She was a born-again Christian and very disciplined. She even did not have a boyfriend until the end of our course.”
He cautioned against what he termed the dangerous politicisation of personal reputations, urging restraint in the ongoing public exchanges that have followed the disputed Masaka Woman MP election.
“Let’s disagree on politics and other issues but avoid insults that damage hard earned reputations,” he added.
The remarks come shortly after Robert Kabushenga, former Vision Group Chief Executive Officer, also came to Nasibirwa’s defence, rejecting allegations made by Nameere and describing her as a professional with a long-standing record of integrity during her time in the media industry.
Kabushenga said Nasibirwa had served under his supervision between 2011 and 2019 at Vision Group’s marketing division, adding that she left the organisation with a strong performance record and no history of misconduct.
The dual interventions from senior public figures highlight growing concern within professional and diplomatic circles over the tone of the public dispute, which has moved beyond the legal contest over the Masaka election into personal accusations and counter-accusations.
The controversy began after Nasibirwa questioned the legality of the court-supervised recount that overturned the initial parliamentary election result in Masaka, raising concerns about procedural integrity.
Nameere, who was declared winner after the recount, responded with sharp personal remarks against the media executive, escalating tensions further.
The exchange has since sparked wider debate about the boundaries between political accountability and personal attacks, particularly in high-profile disputes involving elected leaders and senior media executives.
While the court matter over the Masaka Woman MP seat was resolved, attention is increasingly shifting to the reputational impact of the public confrontation, with calls from senior figures urging restraint as legal proceedings continue.