Kampala & Masaka, Uganda — Museveni’s confession makes Justine Nameere’s election victory invalid, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has said.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has admitted to personally intervening in the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament election, prompting the Uganda Law Society (ULS) to declare Justine Nameere’s victory invalid and condemn the President’s actions as unconstitutional.
Speaking at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi, Museveni recounted Nameere confronting him over alleged vote manipulation.
“Our granddaughter Nameere, I want to introduce you to that young girl, who was a very young girl when I went to Masaka. She was small. Now she has grown and become a fighter in Masaka. They almost killed her. You know, when you are honest, that is why they wanted to kill her,” Museveni said.
“She invaded me at Rwakitura. She came to kill me. So I said, please, don’t kill me… I am not somebody who believes in stories. So, I said ‘what proof do you have on the cheating of your votes?’ They gave me some contacts which I took and they confirmed their story how they were changing the results by announcing different people. You can imagine that and government people were involved including police.”
Museveni would later force heads to roll within the police’s command and the Electoral Commission, and cause a recount.
“I moved in and removed the police commander there and also talked to the Electoral Commission. The EC removed the returning officer,” noted Museveni. “That is how they had a recount.”
The recount, conducted by Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe, awarded Nameere 25,502 votes, overturning the initial result favoring Rose Nalubowa. Ongoing legal and political challenges to the recount, highlighting persistent questions over procedural integrity.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) Condemns Presidential Interference
In a stinging response, the ULS said the statement by Museveni make Nameere’s victory invalid.
“The Uganda Law Society (ULS) strongly condemns the triumphant remarks made by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni… These comments are blatantly unconstitutional and render Justine Nameere’s election invalid due to the President’s self-evident interference in the electoral process,” read a statement signed by Anthony Asiimwe, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society.
The ULS criticized the President’s reported engagement with the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Police Force.
“The President’s reported engagement with the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Police Force for the removal and replacement of the Returning Officer, District Police Commander, and Regional Police Commander, allegedly at Nameere’s urging, undoubtedly compromised the independence of these institutions and violated Articles 62 and 128 of the Constitution.”
Citing the Constitution, the ULS further emphasized the independence of the electoral and judicial systems, and sought to explain how serious the breaches were.
“Article 62 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda guarantees the independence of the Electoral Commission, stating that it ‘shall be independent and shall, in the performance of its functions, not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.’ Similarly, Article 128 enshrines the independence of the Judiciary, providing that courts ‘shall be independent and shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority’ and that ‘no person or authority shall interfere with the courts or judicial officers in the exercise of their judicial functions.’”
The ULS further warned that “election disputes must be resolved exclusively through established legal channels, without undue influence, pressure, interference, or public commentary from the Executive or any other actor that could appear to prejudice or direct outcomes,” adding that “both the Electoral Commission and the Judiciary must be permitted to discharge their mandates independently and impartially, strictly within the bounds of the law.”
ULS wants Museveni to stop interfering in electoral and judicial processes, and to respect the supreme law of the land.
“The President’s actions in the Masaka Woman MP case have eroded public trust, set a dangerous precedent for undermining the rule of law, and pose an insidious threat to constitutional governance,” Uganda Law Society noted.
“We demand that the President and all other stakeholders immediately cease such interference and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution.”
The combination of Museveni’s personal admission and the ULS condemnation has reignited debate over the legality and fairness of Nameere’s Masaka City Woman MP victory, raising constitutional and political alarms across Uganda.
You can see list with names of MPs having sleepless nights over risk of losing parliamentary seats because of election petitions Here.
