“I WILL NEVER INSULT YOU AGAIN, AFANDE… PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” — Motormouth Minister Justine Nameere Swallows Her Words, Bows Before Gen Muhoozi and Begs for Mercy

State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere Nsubuga has apologised to Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba over a video clip she says was maliciously edited to make it appear as though she was attacking him, bringing a public dispute between the minister and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) chairman to an abrupt end.

Nameere issued the apology on X on Sunday, saying she had no intention of attacking Muhoozi and blaming “unscrupulous people” for manipulating the video and attaching his name to her remarks. “My sincere apology to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba @mkainerugaba regarding a video that unscrupulous people maliciously edited and put your name!” Nameere wrote.

“I can NEVER attack you my Brother! Heshima. For those who seek to sow discord, Proverbs Chapter 6:19 says ‘The Lord detests a false witness’,” she added. The apology came after days of escalating exchanges involving Nameere, Muhoozi and senior PLU officials, particularly the organisation’s former secretary general, Daudi Kabanda.

Muhoozi subsequently accepted the apology and announced that he had forgiven the minister, while directing PLU members to stop attacking her. “I have hereby forgiven my dear sister Hon. Justine Nameere. I do not hold grudges against people. I wish all well. The matter is settled,” Muhoozi wrote. “PLU is instructed to stop attacking her from this day on,” he added. The development effectively closes the latest chapter in a dispute that had threatened to deepen tensions between Nameere and supporters of the PLU chairman.

Video Controversy

The dispute was triggered by a video circulating on social media which appeared to show Nameere making remarks that were interpreted as being directed at Muhoozi. Reports about the controversy indicate that a longer version of the recording provided a different context, with Nameere addressing Kabanda rather than Muhoozi.

Nameere had earlier challenged the authenticity and interpretation of another clip linked to former Speaker Anita Among, explaining that it had been extracted from an older recording and presented without the surrounding context. The latest apology therefore appears to have been intended to draw a line under the controversy while reaffirming Nameere’s relationship with Muhoozi. Her reference to being his “sister” also signalled an attempt to frame the disagreement as an internal misunderstanding rather than a permanent political confrontation.

Muhoozi Calls for an End to Attacks

Muhoozi’s response was notable not only because he accepted the apology but also because he specifically instructed PLU supporters to stop attacking Nameere. His statement that “the matter is settled” suggests that the CDF regarded the apology as sufficient to resolve the dispute.

The directive is significant because several PLU supporters had joined the online exchanges surrounding Nameere, with the disagreement increasingly involving personalities beyond the original video. Muhoozi’s instruction puts the matter within the PLU leadership structure and asks his supporters to cease further confrontation with the minister. The dispute had escalated after Muhoozi had publicly demanded that Nameere apologise to him.

On September 16, Muhoozi gave Nameere seven days to apologise, warning that failure to do so would have consequences. Earlier, he had also said that if Nameere was “misbehaving”, removing her from Cabinet would be straightforward. Nameere has now apologised, while Muhoozi has publicly accepted it.

Kabanda Fires Back

Despite Muhoozi’s call for peace, Kabanda’s response showed that tensions between him and Nameere have a separate history. Kabanda said Nameere’s previous criticism of him should not be separated from his role within PLU and his relationship with Muhoozi.

“Nameere should know that when she attacked me, she was attacking CDF who had sent me to withdraw PLU support from AAA,” Kabanda wrote on X. He was referring to the political contest involving Anita Among, commonly known as AAA, and PLU’s earlier decision to withdraw its support. Kabanda also responded to Nameere’s questions about accountability for proceeds from Muhoozi’s birthday run.

“She went further to allege that proceeds from the birthday run were misappropriated by the organizers and demanded accountability,” he wrote. “That has nothing to do with me, blame your own mouth. Ebyange naawe tebijja kugwa! Oba bakusonyiye bakusonyiwe,” Kabanda added. Kabanda’s comments underline that although Muhoozi has declared the matter settled, the broader disagreement between Nameere and some PLU figures has deeper roots.

Nameere had previously criticised Kabanda over PLU’s decision to withdraw support from Among and questioned accountability for money associated with Muhoozi’s birthday charity run. The disagreement therefore goes beyond the disputed video and touches on political loyalties, PLU’s role in parliamentary politics and the relationship between its leadership and elected officials.

A Wider PLU Political Context

The Nameere-Muhoozi dispute comes at a time when PLU is expanding its political mobilisation activities. Muhoozi, who chairs PLU, has publicly declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2031. Kabanda subsequently announced that the PLU chairman would seek the presidency and said the decision had been sanctioned by President Yoweri Museveni.

PLU has since embarked on a nationwide signature and mobilisation campaign in support of Muhoozi’s political ambitions. Uganda Radio Network reported that the group had begun grassroots mobilisation in Busoga alongside its endorsement drive. Kabanda has emerged as one of the most prominent public defenders and organisers within the Muhoozi political project.

That makes his dispute with Nameere politically significant even though the immediate controversy involved a video. Kabanda’s own explanation was that his actions concerning Among were undertaken after receiving instructions from Muhoozi. This is why he interpreted Nameere’s criticism of him as indirectly involving the CDF. Nameere, meanwhile, is both a Cabinet minister and Masaka City Woman MP, placing her at the intersection of government, Parliament and the increasingly visible PLU political network.

The political fallout

The apology has now changed the immediate direction of the confrontation. Instead of continuing with the ultimatum issued by Muhoozi, the two sides have publicly moved towards reconciliation. Muhoozi’s statement that he “does not hold grudges” and his instruction to PLU supporters to stop attacking Nameere provide a clear indication that he wants the dispute closed.

Nameere’s invocation of Proverbs 6:19 — “The Lord detests a false witness” — meanwhile places her explanation firmly around the claim that the video was manipulated and used to create discord. The remaining issue is whether the latest reconciliation will also ease the separate disagreements between Nameere and PLU officials such as Kabanda. For now, however, the most prominent confrontation has been publicly resolved.

For Nameere and Muhoozi, the public exchange has ended with an apology and forgiveness. For Kabanda and Nameere, however, the record of their earlier political disagreements remains, even as Muhoozi has instructed the PLU faithful to move on

Author Profile

Stephen Kasozi Muwambi: Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]