Masaka Woman Member of Parliament-elect Justine Nameere has come out to defend Speaker of Parliament Anita Among amid growing public debate over the Rolls-Royce vehicle linked to the Speaker.
In a strongly worded video statement, Nameere dismissed claims that Among bought the luxury car herself, insisting that it was instead given to her as a birthday gift last November.
Although she did not disclose who gifted the vehicle, Nameere claimed the Rolls-Royce was delivered to Uganda months ago and has since remained parked at the Speaker’s residence.
She further dragged fellow NRM MP Daudi Kabanda into the controversy, alleging that the Kasambya MP personally witnessed the vehicle’s arrival and even took photographs of it at the time.
Kabanda, who serves as Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), recently announced that the organisation had withdrawn its endorsement of Among in the forthcoming Speakership race — a move that appears to have deepened tensions within political circles.
According to Nameere, Kabanda has been deliberately working behind the scenes to paint Among as corrupt in order to weaken her public image and political standing.
She further alleged that the MP hoped the pressure surrounding the Rolls-Royce saga would force the Speaker into offering him money in exchange for restoring PLU’s support.
Nameere also accused Kabanda of using the pictures of the luxury vehicle as a tool for political blackmail, claiming he later shared them with Justice Minister Norbert Mao to fuel negative publicity against the Speaker.
Defending Among’s lifestyle, Nameere argued that the Speaker associates with several wealthy and influential figures across Africa, saying it should not shock the public that she could receive such an expensive gift.
Among the names she mentioned were African business magnate Aliko Dangote and Captain Alexander Olukayode Ajibade, father to Nigerian singer Mr Eazi and a retired Nigerian Air Force officer who reportedly also worked as a private pilot for former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
