Masaka City Woman MP-elect Justine Nameere is facing heavy criticism following the arrest and detention of a prominent journalist and several TikTok users. The arrests, which occurred on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, have sparked a massive outcry from the media fraternity, with many accusing authorities of being used to suppress reports of an alleged Shs 100 million debt.
Journalists in Masaka stormed the Central Police Station on Wednesday morning to demand the release of their colleague, Frank Bwekumbule, who was apprehended a day earlier under what they termed “irregular circumstances”.
The Masaka District Police Commander, Morris Oyee, reportedly admitted to journalists that he was hesitant to release Bwekumbule due to a case directly initiated by Nameere. According to GREMAJA president Farish Magembe, Bwekumbule was targeted for his alleged involvement in sharing viral videos that cast Nameere in a negative light.
The controversy centers on TikTok videos featuring a coffee seedling supplier, Cissy Nanyange. In the footage, Nanyange accuses Nameere of failing to pay over Shs 100 million for coffee seedlings (cuttings) delivered during the recent election period.
While Nanyange maintains the dispute is purely commercial, the timing of the delivery—close to polling day—has added a political layer to the scandal. In addition to Bwekumbule, police have also detained TikTokers Joseph Kikaawa and Frank Kaggwa for hosting or amplifying Nanyange’s claims on their platforms.
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The arrests have drawn sharp rebukes from local leaders and NRM youth figures alike:
• Selective Speed: GREMAJA leaders noted that Bwekumbule was recently assaulted by unknown attackers, but while that investigation has stalled, his arrest over the Nameere case was processed almost instantly.
• Political Fallout: NRM youth leader Swakib Muswangali confirmed he witnessed the seedling delivery and urged President Museveni to intervene, calling the arrests an “abuse of authority”.
• Legal Challenges: Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye stated the suspects are being processed for publishing content on allegedly “unregistered platforms,” a claim the accused deny.
As of press time, Justine Nameere had not issued a formal public response to the debt allegations or the accusations that she influenced the police to target her critics.
For the journalism community in Greater Masaka, the incident is being viewed as a litmus test for accountability. “Journalists should be allowed to do their work without fear,” stated David Kintu, the brother of the detained reporter.
The three suspects remain in custody pending formal charges as pressure continues to mount on the Masaka police to address the underlying business dispute rather than its messengers.
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