By Wamala Sipirian
Published: September 23, 2026
State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere has publicly endorsed Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s bid for Uganda’s presidency in 2031, days after a public dispute between the two government figures was brought to an end.
Nameere visited the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Secretariat in Naguru, Kampala, where she formally joined the endorsement campaign for Kainerugaba.
The endorsement was confirmed by the Ministry of Local Government and PLU, which said Nameere had declared her support for Kainerugaba’s presidential bid.
Nameere cites long-standing relationship
Speaking about her decision, Nameere said her relationship with Kainerugaba dates back to her university years, when she said they worked together on assignments for President Yoweri Museveni.
“Today is a special day for me. The first time I got to interact with Gen Muhoozi was when I was at university, and we used to do a number of assignments together for H.E. the president,” Nameere said.
She said she had defended Kainerugaba publicly even before he became prominent in national political debates.
According to Nameere, she was among those who defended him when some people within government accused him of being quietly prepared to succeed his father.
She said she worked alongside Shafik Ssebunnya, Jordan, Frank Mwesigwa and others in defending Kainerugaba, a process she said contributed to their political relationship.
Nameere described her decision to endorse him as one based on what she called personal, patriotic, national and international considerations.
“I am a very convicted person. I don’t just follow like a fool. I ask why and why not, and I ask fearlessly,” she said.
“By the time I took the decision to come and endorse my brother for a position as serious as the presidency, I had informed reasons.”
Nameere says support for Muhoozi does not conflict with Museveni loyalty
Nameere also sought to distinguish her support for Kainerugaba from her continued loyalty to President Museveni.
She described Kainerugaba as Museveni’s leading “foot soldier” and said the assignments they had previously undertaken were in service of the President.
“Of course, I still support Jajja Museveni, and as long as he is still here, we are still moving with him,” she said. “I know that there is no clash whatsoever.”
The PLU has been conducting a nationwide campaign to collect endorsements for Kainerugaba ahead of the 2031 presidential race. PLU said Nameere had also collected endorsement books for mobilisation across Masaka City’s 25 wards.
Endorsement follows public dispute
Nameere’s endorsement comes after a public disagreement involving Kainerugaba and PLU officials.
The dispute began after a shortened video circulated online and appeared to show Nameere warning Kainerugaba against fighting NRM legislators. A longer version of the recording showed that her remarks were directed at PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda rather than Kainerugaba.
Kainerugaba subsequently gave Nameere seven days to apologise and warned that “nothing will save her” if she failed to do so. He also said she could be removed from Cabinet if she was “misbehaving.”
Nameere later issued a public apology on September 20, while maintaining that an edited video had wrongly associated her remarks with Kainerugaba.
“My sincere apology to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba regarding a video that unscrupulous people maliciously edited and put your name! I can NEVER attack you my Brother!” she wrote.
Kainerugaba subsequently said he had forgiven Nameere and instructed PLU supporters 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. PLU is instructed to stop attacking her from this day on,” he said.
Earlier dispute over edited video
The latest disagreement followed another controversy involving a separate video that Nameere said had been edited to create a misleading impression about her position regarding a proposed celebration for former Speaker Anita Among.
Nameere rejected that interpretation and said manipulated video clips had contributed to tensions between her and Kainerugaba.
She has previously referred to her long-standing association with Kainerugaba, including their university years and political activities in Greater Masaka.
Nameere’s endorsement now places her publicly within the PLU campaign supporting Kainerugaba’s stated ambition to contest Uganda’s presidency in 2031. The PLU and the Ministry of Local Government have both reported her participation in the endorsement drive.