State Minister for Local Government and Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament Justine Nameere has broken her silence regarding the dramatic circumstances surrounding her arrest and brief detention by military operatives earlier this month. The minister has revealed that her captors allegedly acted on false intelligence linking her to money that was reportedly associated with former Speaker Anita Among.
Nameere’s arrest on May 15 sent shockwaves across Masaka City and beyond. The incident occurred just hours after she had been sworn in as the newly elected Woman MP for Masaka City. What was supposed to be a day of celebration quickly turned into a frightening experience after military operatives intercepted her convoy.
According to Nameere, she was moving through the city in a procession accompanied by supporters when military personnel suddenly stopped her vehicle. Witnesses reportedly watched in disbelief as she was taken away in a drone van and driven to an undisclosed location.
The minister remained in detention for two days before she was eventually released. During that period, many of her supporters and political allies expressed concern about her whereabouts and demanded explanations from authorities.
Speaking during an interview with Bukedde TV, Nameere said the operation against her was based on misleading information provided to security personnel. She claimed that the soldiers who arrested her genuinely believed they were acting on credible intelligence.
According to Nameere, the information given to the operatives suggested that she was keeping large amounts of money allegedly belonging to former Speaker Anita Among. The intelligence reportedly indicated that the money was hidden in sacks and was intended for political purposes.
She explained that her captors believed the funds were going to be distributed to Members of Parliament as bribes. The alleged objective, according to the information given to the soldiers, was to influence lawmakers not to support Jacob Oboth Oboth, who had been endorsed by the ruling National Resistance Movement leadership for the position of Speaker of Parliament.
Nameere strongly denied the allegations and said she was surprised when she learned the reasons behind her arrest. She maintained that she had never been involved in any scheme to influence parliamentary voting through financial incentives.
The minister revealed that as time passed, some of the officers holding her began to realize that the information they had received might not have been accurate. She claimed she could hear discussions among the operatives expressing doubt about the intelligence that had triggered the operation.
According to Nameere, some of the officers appeared frustrated after discovering that the situation on the ground did not match the information they had been given. This reportedly led to disagreements and phone conversations with those who had supplied the intelligence.
She further disclosed that President Yoweri Museveni later intervened in the matter after learning about her detention. According to her account, another team was reportedly sent to assess the situation, eventually leading to her release.
“My captors were already starting to regret it. I could hear them arguing with other people on the phone that they had been misled,” Nameere said during the interview.
The minister also questioned the logic behind the allegations, arguing that she had no reason to work against Jacob Oboth Oboth. She explained that she shares a close personal relationship with him and considers him an important figure in her life.
Nameere revealed that Oboth Oboth attended her marriage ceremony and has maintained a close relationship with her family over the years. She described him as someone she deeply respects and would never seek to undermine politically.
“I told them whoever gave them that information was mad because I could not antagonise Hon Oboth. He attended my marriage ceremony and is more like a father to me,” she said.
The minister added that the soldiers did not subject her to extensive questioning during her detention. Instead, she said they appeared increasingly convinced that they had arrested the wrong person and were pursuing a false lead.
Beyond denying the allegations regarding bribery, Nameere also addressed speculation surrounding her relationship with former Speaker Anita Among. She insisted that while the two have known each other for years, their relationship was based on friendship and professional interactions.
According to Nameere, she never received any money from Among and had no involvement in managing or safeguarding any funds linked to the former Speaker. She emphasized that claims suggesting otherwise were entirely false.
The incident has generated significant public discussion, with many observers raising questions about the quality of intelligence used in security operations. Political analysts say the case highlights the importance of thorough verification before action is taken against public officials.
As debate continues, Nameere says she is focused on serving the people of Masaka City and moving beyond the ordeal. However, her account of the events has added a new dimension to ongoing conversations about politics, security operations, and the consequences of acting on unverified information in Uganda’s increasingly competitive political environment.
