Former Deputy RCC for Rubaga Division Burora Herbert Anderson has weighed in on the growing online dispute involving Nation Media Group Uganda managing director Susan Nsibirwa and Minister Justine Nameere, criticising what he describes as selective defence from senior figures who have come out in her support.
The controversy stems from Nsibirwa’s X post questioning the integrity of Nameere’s Masaka City Woman MP election victory.
Nsibirwa suggested that “the law was broken to declare you winner,” a statement that quickly ignited backlash from Nameere and triggered a wider public debate on electoral integrity and media impartiality
Burora, in a strongly worded post, said it was “astonishing” that senior figures such as former Vision Group chief executive Robert Kabushenga and Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Adonia Ayebare had defended Nsibirwa without acknowledging concerns raised about her remarks.
He argued that the issue was not only personal but institutional, pointing to the sensitivity surrounding Nsibirwa’s leadership of a major media organisation.
“Astonishingly; Robert Kabushenga, Adonia Ayebare etc and many others defending Susan Nsibirwa don't see any problem with this tweet especially where the entity she heads has been accused of bias,” Burora stated.
His remarks come at a time when Nsibirwa’s post has been interpreted by critics as potentially undermining perceptions of neutrality within Nation Media Group Uganda, particularly in politically charged electoral disputes such as the Masaka race.
Burora further suggested that the tone and content of Nsibirwa’s post reflected poor judgement, though he stopped short of presenting any evidence beyond his personal interpretation.
He added that public officials and media executives should exercise restraint in politically sensitive conversations, especially on social media platforms where statements can quickly escalate.
“I would actually believe Justine Nameere that maybe Susan Nsibirwa secretly gets drunk without the knowledge of others thus being reckless with her publications,” he added, a claim that has not been substantiated and remains a personal allegation within the online exchange.
He further argued that leadership positions require heightened responsibility in public communication, especially where electoral matters are involved.
According to him, the reaction to Nsibirwa’s post demonstrated what he views as inconsistency in public accountability standards.
“For a head of an entity like NMG to recklessly make such a statement: it is sanely problematic,” he wrote, maintaining that the concerns raised by critics should not be dismissed simply because of her professional standing or public support from influential figures.
The controversy has drawn in several prominent voices online, with Kabushenga and Ayebare among those who have publicly defended Nsibirwa. Kabushenga, who previously led Vision Group, said he worked with Nsibirwa for years and described her as professional and of high integrity, insisting that he had never encountered misconduct in her career.
Ayebare, on his part, referenced their time together at Makerere University, describing Nsibirwa as disciplined and principled, and cautioning against the use of personal attacks in public discourse.
The differing positions have widened debate online, with one side framing Nsibirwa’s remarks as a legitimate political opinion and the other viewing them as inappropriate for a senior media executive.