Justine Nameere
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere’s position in Cabinet has come under renewed scrutiny after Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba warned that she could be removed from government and later gave her seven days to apologise to him.
The escalating dispute has placed the Masaka City Woman MP at the centre of a public confrontation with one of the most influential figures in Uganda’s political establishment, although there has been no official announcement that President Yoweri Museveni has decided to drop her from Cabinet.
Muhoozi issued the latest warning early Wednesday, September 16, 2026, demanding that Nameere apologise to him by September 23.
“I’m giving Nameere exactly seven days to apologise to me. If she doesn’t, nothing will save her,” Kainerugaba wrote on X.
The ultimatum came barely a day after the General publicly suggested that Nameere could lose her ministerial position if she continued what he described as “misbehaving.”
“If Nameere is misbehaving, it’s a very simple problem. We shall remove her from cabinet. That’s a very simple thing,” Kainerugaba said.
He went further to indicate that wider changes could be made to President Museveni’s Cabinet, saying ministers who were not serving the interests of Ugandans could be dropped or reshuffled.
Edited video fuels fresh confrontation
The latest confrontation stems from a short video clip involving Nameere that circulated online and appeared to show her warning Muhoozi against fighting NRM legislators.
However, a longer version of the recording indicates that Nameere was addressing Patriotic League of Uganda Secretary General Daudi Kabanda, rather than the Chief of Defence Forces. Reports indicate that the shorter clip omitted the section identifying the person to whom she was speaking.
Kabanda subsequently joined the dispute, questioning Nameere’s election as Masaka City Woman MP and arguing that the constituency deserved a by-election.
“She didn’t win genuinely. The people of Masaka City deserve a by-election,” Kabanda wrote beneath Muhoozi’s post.
The controversy has nevertheless placed Nameere under renewed political pressure, coming only days after another disagreement with Muhoozi triggered by a separate video.
Second video controversy in a week
In the earlier incident, a video circulated suggesting that Nameere was involved in plans to organise a celebration for former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
Muhoozi reacted strongly, saying the proposed celebration would not take place. Nameere later rejected the interpretation of the footage, explaining that it had been extracted from a longer recording made on May 6, 2026.
According to Nameere, the original recording was directed at young entrepreneurs whom she was encouraging to exploit business opportunities during the swearing-in season.
She said she had mentioned businesses such as decoration, clothing, make-up and hairdressing, which could benefit from increased demand during political celebrations.
Nameere accused unnamed individuals of editing the footage and using it to mislead Muhoozi. In a message directed at the General, she warned that people seeking favours could misuse their access to influential leaders to frame others.
She also reaffirmed her loyalty to Muhoozi, citing their relationship dating back to their university days, her media work and PLU mobilisation activities in Greater Masaka.
Cabinet fate remains uncertain
Despite Muhoozi’s public threats, Nameere’s removal is not yet a settled matter. The Constitution places the appointment and removal of ministers within the President’s authority, meaning the General’s statements do not by themselves constitute a formal Cabinet dismissal.
Nevertheless, the seven-day ultimatum has raised questions about Nameere’s political future, particularly because Muhoozi has now publicly linked her conduct to the possibility of losing her government position.
The dispute also comes at a politically sensitive moment, with Muhoozi’s PLU increasingly active in national mobilisation and several political figures publicly aligning themselves with his political ambitions.
As of Wednesday, Nameere had not publicly responded to the latest seven-day ultimatum. The deadline of September 23 therefore leaves the minister facing a period of uncertainty over whether she will apologise, challenge the accusations, or remain silent as the dispute unfolds.
For now, the threats against her remain statements by Muhoozi rather than a formal announcement of her removal. But the repeated public clashes, coupled with the General’s explicit reference to dropping ministers, have put Nameere’s Cabinet position under considerably greater scrutiny.
