Justine Nameere. Photo/Courtesy
State Minister for Local Government and Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament Justine Nameere has broken her silence on resurfaced allegations linked to past court reports, strongly dismissing the claims as false and accusing a section of the media of publishing defamatory stories that ended up costing them financially in court.
Taking to her X account, Nameere said the disputed reports, which previously linked her to debt and alleged fraud-related dealings, were fully challenged in court and successfully settled in her favour.
“These were false stories and I sued the company and they paid me Shs180 million. The lies fattened my bank account. Unfortunately, by the time they paid me, the Kabushenga who had directed that the falsehoods be published about me had already been fired. He now has inda payiini,” Nameere wrote.
Her remarks come amid renewed online discussions revisiting 2019 reports that had alleged she was facing legal and financial troubles, including claims of debt and accusations tied to vehicle transactions and false pretence.
At the time, the coverage had painted a picture of a high-profile legal and financial dispute involving Nameere and individuals associated with her business dealings.
The reports circulated widely, triggering public debate and scrutiny over her private and professional life.
However, Nameere now maintains that the entire episode was built on fabricated narratives, insisting that the court outcome vindicated her and proved that the publications were baseless.
She further used her statement to criticise the editorial decision-making behind the stories, suggesting that senior newsroom leadership at the time was responsible for authorising the publication of what she terms “falsehoods.”
The remarks have since reignited mixed reactions online, with some users questioning the tone of her response, while others argue it highlights broader tensions between public figures and media houses over reporting standards, verification processes, and reputational damage.
Media freedom advocates often note that defamation cases in East Africa continue to expose the fragile balance between investigative reporting and reputational rights, particularly in high-profile financial disputes involving public personalities.
Nameere’s latest comments are expected to further fuel debate on how legacy media houses handled sensitive allegations in the past, especially in cases where court rulings later contradict initial reporting.