By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The Minister for Local Government, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi has come out to clear the air concerning accusations labelled against his Junior Minister, Justine Nameere by coffee seedling suppliers in Masaka.
Coffee suppliers led by a one Cissy Nanyange, accused Nameere on Monday, 27th July, 2026 of failing to pay farmers who supplied seedlings during the NRM primaries and campaigns worth Shs156M.
Nameere was embarrassed during a public Baraza with Cissy insisting Nameere made the order in the presence of all NRM District Chairpersons of the Greater Masaka area and had failed to pay them.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, 28th July, Minister Balaam says the issue has been resolved.
“The issue raised by the coffee seedling suppliers in Masaka has been resolved. His Excellency the President, Kaguta Museveni, through the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye will ensure that the suppliers are paid fully tomorrow morning (today Wednesday, July 29, 2026).” Says Balaam.
He also says that the matter appears to have been escalated due to political differences and the stress faced by the seedling operators.
The contract to supply the coffee seedlings was awarded to Chairman Bulegeya of Masaka. Hon. Justine Namere only witnessed the arrangement and was not a contracting party to the suppliers, contrary to the allegations made by the lady yesterday.
Meanwhile, State Minister Justine Nameere had earlier accused Masaka City NRM chairman Rogers Bulegeya of misleading President Museveni about coffee seedlings.
Apparently Nameere had secured approval to supply farmers in Masaka, but Bulegeya allegedly claimed he had millions of seedlings and got the contract. He didn’t deliver, proposed sharing proceeds, then sourced from 14 local farmers and owed them about 150 million shillings without paying.
Nanyange claims farmers were promised payment after supplying coffee to NRM chairpersons across Masaka, with the arrangement reportedly backed by an assurance that President Museveni had given Nameere the go ahead during campaigns.
