State Minister for Local Government and Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere Nsubuga has publicly endorsed Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for the 2031 presidency. This move marks a significant turn in the relationship between the two politicians after a recent bitter public confrontation. Nameere made the endorsement after visiting the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) national secretariat in Naguru, Kampala.
Nameere was received by PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla, who announced the development on social media. Twalla described Nameere as his "sister" and said she had joined millions of Ugandans backing Gen Muhoozi for president in 2031 and beyond. Nameere also donated endorsement books for Masaka City, with another PLU supporter, Mwesigye Frank, stating that she had picked 25 endorsement books, one for each of the 25 wards in Masaka City.
The endorsement represents a sharp change in Nameere's public position towards Muhoozi's political ambitions. The minister had previously questioned or opposed calls for Muhoozi to succeed President Yoweri Museveni, arguing that Museveni remained the country's political leader and was still active. The disagreement became more pronounced as the PLU stepped up its campaign to collect endorsements for Muhoozi ahead of the 2031 presidential election.
The dispute between Nameere and Muhoozi intensified after a video clip circulated on social media appearing to show the minister making critical remarks directed at the CDF. The controversy centred on whether Nameere had been attacking Muhoozi or whether the video had been edited to change the meaning of her remarks. Nameere subsequently maintained that the video had been maliciously edited and that she had never intended to attack Muhoozi.
Nameere eventually issued a public apology, although she continued to insist that the offending video had been manipulated. In her message addressed to Muhoozi, she apologised over the video and said she could never attack him, referring to him as her brother. Muhoozi subsequently accepted the apology and declared the matter settled, directing members of PLU to stop attacking Nameere.
Within days of the reconciliation, Nameere has now gone a step further by physically visiting the PLU headquarters and endorsing Muhoozi for the presidency in 2031. Her appearance at the PLU secretariat also places her directly within the movement's current nationwide mobilisation programme. Twalla said Nameere had joined those endorsing Muhoozi and thanked her for the donation of endorsement books intended for Masaka City.
The endorsement books for Masaka City could give the development an additional local political dimension. Nameere represents Masaka City in Parliament and serves as State Minister for Local Government. Her decision to take endorsement books for the city's wards means supporters of the Muhoozi project will now have an opportunity to mobilise in an area represented by a minister who had only recently been involved in a public dispute with the PLU leadership.
Key points
- Minister Justine Nameere Nsubuga endorses Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for 2031 presidency
- Nameere had previously been in a public confrontation with Muhoozi over a video clip
- The endorsement is part of the PLU's nationwide mobilisation programme for Muhoozi's presidential bid
