Nameere said the original video was recorded in May but was allegedly edited to extract a two-second segment and associate her remarks with Gen. Muhoozi.
Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament and State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere has apologised to Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba following a dispute over a video clip that circulated online and was interpreted as an attack on the General.
Nameere issued the apology on her X account, saying the video had been maliciously edited by people she accused of having political differences with her.
“My sincere apology to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba regarding a video that unscrupulous people maliciously edited and put your name! I can NEVER attack you my Brother! Heshima,” Nameere wrote.
She further cited Proverbs 6:19, saying: “The Lord detests a false witness,” in an apparent reference to those she accused of circulating the clip.
Nameere Faces Muhoozi Pressure as Masaka Election Dispute Returns to Court
Nameere said the original video was recorded in May but was allegedly edited to extract a two-second segment and associate her remarks with Gen. Muhoozi.
The dispute follows a series of posts by Gen. Muhoozi demanding an apology from the minister. On September 16, he gave Nameere seven days to apologise, warning that failure to do so would have consequences.
The General later issued a fresh 72-hour ultimatum, threatening to have Nameere removed from her ministerial position if she did not apologise.
The controversy centred on a short video that appeared to show Nameere directing critical remarks at Gen. Muhoozi. However, reports on a longer version of the recording indicated that Nameere was addressing Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Secretary General and Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda, rather than Gen. Muhoozi.
Appearing on Sanyuka TV, Nameere said the people behind the circulation of the edited clip were politically opposed to her.
“It is unfortunate that these people misinformed the General. Their only challenge is fighting Nameere’s opportunity. But I want to remind you, if you are in your right senses, you cannot fight one’s opportunity which is due,” she said.
Gen. Muhoozi has also threatened to travel to Masaka and campaign against Nameere in favour of a candidate of his choice.
“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,” he said in a post, without naming the candidate he intends to support.
The public dispute comes as Nameere prepares for another political battle in the courts, with the High Court in Masaka scheduled to hear an election petition challenging her victory as Masaka City Woman MP on September 22.
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 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 gave Nameere 25,502 votes against Nalubowa’s 23,176.
Nalubowa has since petitioned the High Court, challenging 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 intended to cross-examine seven witnesses for the respondents, including Nameere. Nameere’s legal team, led by counsel Sam Ssekyewa, indicated that it intended to cross-examine 10 witnesses, including Nalubowa.
The central issue in the petition is whether the recount that overturned the Electoral Commission’s initial declaration of Nalubowa as winner was conducted lawfully.
Nalubowa’s lawyers maintain that the recount 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 battle and the dispute with Gen. Muhoozi have placed Nameere under renewed political pressure as she seeks to retain both her parliamentary seat and her position in government.
Nameere’s apology now brings a new development to the public dispute, although it remains unclear whether Gen. Muhoozi will accept it and withdraw his earlier threats against the minister.