Masaka City — In a stunning twist that has ignited fierce public debate, State Minister for Local Government and Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere Nsubuga has filed a defamation lawsuit against a local coffee supplier just days after the woman publicly confronted her over an unpaid debt of approximately UGX 150–156 million for coffee seedlings.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded on Monday, July 27, 2026, during the launch of the Ministry of Local Government’s “Expose the Corrupt” campaign in Masaka City, led by Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi. What was meant to be a platform for residents to air grievances about corruption and poor service delivery turned personal when Cissy Nanyange, a coffee seller and supplier from Masaka, stood up and accused Nameere of failing to pay for seedlings she supplied during the 2025/2026 election campaigns.
Nanyange claimed she delivered coffee seedlings worth between UGX 152 million and UGX 156 million that were distributed as part of Nameere’s campaign activities and to other senior NRM leaders in the area. Despite repeated attempts to recover her money—including phone calls that she said went unanswered—she remained unpaid. The public accusation briefly disrupted the rally and drew murmurs from the gathered crowd.
Nameere denied cheating the woman. She later stated that she had petitioned President Yoweri Museveni for the seedlings, but that NRM Masaka City Chairman Rogers Bulegeya had mishandled the delivery and payments. She claimed she rejected certain arrangements to avoid being drawn into corruption. Minister Balaam intervened, mediating a follow-up meeting and assuring Nanyange that efforts would be made to resolve the matter, including seeking financial support from the President to ensure payment. Reports indicate the dispute over the money has since been addressed, with assurances that the supplier would be paid.
Yet the matter did not end there. Nameere has now sued Nanyange for defamation over the public claims. The lawsuit has drawn sharp criticism, particularly given Nameere’s public image as a champion of women and a vocal anti-corruption advocate who represents the women of Masaka City in Parliament.
Journalist Arnold Freeman Musamali captured the prevailing sentiment in a widely shared opinion that has fueled online discussion: “Minister Justine Nameere, the fact that you claim to be fighting for women and represent women of Masaka city in parliament… And you picked coffee from this woman directly. You would have helped the woman get payment instead of trying to show her your power. Also there is no reason for suing.”
Critics argue that suing a local supplier—especially a woman from her own constituency who supplied goods for campaign-related activities—undermines Nameere’s stated commitment to empowering women and fighting graft. They contend that as the elected Woman MP, her priority should have been facilitating payment rather than escalating the dispute into court after the public embarrassment. Some observers have described the legal action as an unnecessary display of power against a citizen who simply demanded what she was owed.
Supporters of the minister counter that public accusations of this nature, if inaccurate or exaggerated in targeting her personally rather than the broader party structures involved, damage her reputation and anti-corruption credentials. Nameere has previously positioned herself as a strong voice against misconduct and has a track record of defending her name in court, including a successful defamation suit against a media house that resulted in a substantial payout.
The episode highlights the complex intersection of politics, campaign logistics, and accountability in Uganda’s grassroots politics. Coffee seedlings are a common tool in agricultural support and political outreach in coffee-growing regions like Greater Masaka. When such distributions occur during election periods, questions of who ultimately bears financial responsibility often become contentious.
As the defamation case proceeds, many in Masaka and beyond are watching closely. For a minister who rose to prominence partly on a platform of representing ordinary women and rooting out corruption, the optics of pursuing legal action against a coffee supplier who supplied her campaign and then sought payment remain deeply uncomfortable for some of her constituents.
Whether the courts will view Nanyange’s public claims as defamatory or as a legitimate cry for payment remains to be determined. What is already clear is that the incident has left a bitter aftertaste in a city that expected its Woman MP to stand firmly with the women she represents—starting with those who literally supplied the coffee.
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