As the election petition returns to court on Tuesday, September 22, Nameere is therefore facing two separate challenges—one before the courts over her parliamentary election and another political confrontation arising from her reported disagreement with the PLU leadership.
Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament and State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere is facing renewed political pressure from Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as her legal battle over the parliamentary seat returns to the High Court next week.
Gen Muhoozi, who is also chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), has issued a series of statements targeting Nameere, including a 72-hour ultimatum for her to apologise to him or face removal from her ministerial position.
In his latest statements, Gen Muhoozi also threatened to travel to Masaka and campaign for a candidate of his choice against Nameere.
“I’m coming to rescue the people of Masaka from Nameere,” he said in one of the posts.
In another, he said: “The people of Masaka support me, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and President Museveni. Not Nameere. Never. If she doubts it, I will go there and campaign for my preferred candidate.”
Gen Muhoozi did not name the candidate he would support.
His statements come days before the substantive hearing of an election petition challenging Nameere’s victory as Masaka City Woman MP.
The petition was filed by National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Rose Nalubowa, who is challenging the process through which Nameere was declared the winner following a vote recount.
The Electoral Commission initially declared Nalubowa the winner of the January 2026 election with 25,443 votes against Nameere’s 20,324.
Nameere challenged the result, leading to a recount supervised by Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe. The recount subsequently declared Nameere the winner with 25,502 votes against Nalubowa’s 23,176 votes.
Nalubowa has since petitioned the High Court, questioning the legality of the recount and seeking to have Nameere’s election overturned.
At a pretrial scheduling conference before Justice Bernard Namanya on September 15, Nalubowa’s lawyers said they intend to cross-examine seven witnesses, including Nameere.
Nameere’s legal team, led by counsel Sam Ssekyewa, indicated that it intends to cross-examine 10 witnesses, including Nalubowa. The court set September 22 for the hearing of the petition.
The central issue before court is whether the recount that reversed the Electoral Commission’s initial declaration of Nalubowa as winner was lawfully conducted.
Nalubowa’s lawyers maintain that the recount exercise was irregular, while Nameere’s lawyers have asked court to dismiss the petition, arguing that it is defective and does not disclose a proper cause of action.
The court proceedings are taking place alongside the escalating public dispute between Nameere and Gen Muhoozi.
Gen Muhoozi first gave Nameere seven days to apologise to him on September 16, warning that she would face consequences if she failed to do so. He later issued the 72-hour ultimatum and threatened to remove her from her ministerial position.
The dispute reportedly followed the circulation of a video involving Nameere, although subsequent reporting indicated that a longer version of the video showed her addressing PLU Secretary General and Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda rather than Gen Muhoozi.
As the election petition returns to court on Tuesday, September 22, Nameere is therefore facing two separate challenges—one before the courts over her parliamentary election and another political confrontation arising from her reported disagreement with the PLU leadership.
