A dispute over the supply of coffee seedlings in Masaka has taken a dramatic turn after State Minister Justine Nameere filed a defamation suit against supplier Nanyange Cissy, following public allegations that she failed to pay farmers for seedlings supplied under a government-backed initiative.
The controversy centers on claims by Cissy and other suppliers that they are owed between Shs150 million and Shs156 million for coffee seedlings distributed to residents in Masaka. The allegations surfaced during anti-corruption engagements in the area, where suppliers accused Nameere of failing to settle the outstanding balance.
Nameere has strongly denied being responsible for the payments. She maintains that the procurement arrangement was handled by Masaka City NRM Chairman Rogers Bulegeya and insists her role was limited to witnessing the agreement rather than contracting the suppliers herself.
Arguing that the public accusations damaged her reputation, the minister has now taken legal action against Cissy, seeking redress through the courts over what she describes as defamatory statements.
The dispute has since attracted the attention of the Office of the President. According to Information Minister Balaam Barugahara, government intervened to ensure the suppliers receive their money directly. He said payments would be made to the affected suppliers the following morning and clarified that Nameere was not the contracting party but merely witnessed the transaction.
The seedlings controversy has fueled intense political debate in Masaka, where tensions within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have remained high following recent electoral contests and internal disagreements.
Meanwhile, the legal proceedings are expected to determine whether the statements made against Nameere amounted to defamation, while the payment process aims to resolve the long-running grievances raised by the suppliers.