Hardly a fortnight after her dramatic arrest by security operatives in Masaka amid the Speaker of Parliament fallout, Justine Nameere has been appointed Minister of State for Local Government in President Yoweri Museveni’s new Cabinet.
Museveni named the outspoken NRM mobiliser to Cabinet on Tuesday evening, capping a turbulent political period marked by election disputes, security drama and internal ruling party tensions.
Nameere’s appointment comes months after her controversial victory in the Masaka City Woman MP race, which was only confirmed following a court-ordered vote recount that overturned an earlier Electoral Commission declaration in favour of National Unity Platform’s Rose Nalubowa.
President Museveni later publicly acknowledged intervening in the matter after Nameere complained about “ manipulation of results.”
Her political profile rose further during the recent Speaker saga, where she openly defended former Speaker Anita Among and became involved in mobilisation efforts amid deepening divisions within the ruling establishment.
Earlier this month, Nameere was arrested by armed security operatives shortly after concluding a public procession in Masaka following her swearing-in as MP.
Media reports linked the arrest to tensions surrounding the Speaker race and internal disputes within the NRM and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
Despite the controversy, Museveni’s decision to elevate her to Cabinet is being viewed as a strong political endorsement.
The appointment signals the President’s continued reliance on loyal grassroots mobilisers, especially at a time when the ruling party is seeking to consolidate support in Buganda.
As Minister of State for Local Government, Nameere will now help oversee district administration and local governance structures across the country.
Her appointment marks a dramatic political turnaround from election disputes and security scrutiny to joining the country’s top executive leadership.
