TAKEAWAYS

• Museveni said he deliberately appointed officials known for being outspoken and confrontational.
• He singled out Juliet Nameere as being “famous for quarreling.”
• The President argued that confronting wrongdoing should not be mistaken for a lack of manners.

President Yoweri Museveni left delegates at Kololo Independence Grounds amused during the national budget reading after revealing the unusual reason behind the appointment of some officials in the Ministry of Local Government.

Speaking during his address, the President said he intentionally selected individuals known for being tough, outspoken and unafraid of confrontation, arguing that such traits are necessary when dealing with people who undermine government programs.

According to Museveni, Balaam Barugahara and Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Kakande Nameere were among those chosen because of their notorious characters.

“I put in local government some people that people have been saying are cantankerous and quarrelsome. Like Barugahara and Nameere. Nameere is famous for quarreling, so you go and quarrel with them,” Museveni said.

The President went on to defend Nameere’s confrontational style, recalling a previous visit to Masaka where he had to publicly support her amid criticism from some residents.

“When I went to Masaka to defend Nameere, people were saying she has no manners. But if the lack of manners is exposing wrong things, then that is a problem with society,” Museveni remarked.

Museveni criticized what he described as a culture where people are discouraged from speaking out against wrongdoing in the name of maintaining decorum.

He argued that exposing corruption, theft and abuse of office should never be mistaken for disrespect, warning that such attitudes could hinder national development.

It should be noted that Nameere has built a reputation as one of the ruling party’s most fearless and vocal politicians. The Masaka City Woman MP rarely shies away from political confrontations and has often gone head-to-head with critics of both the government and President Museveni.

Her combative style has earned her admiration from supporters and criticism from opponents alike — a reputation so well-known that even the President openly acknowledged it during his address at Kololo.