Nameere Accuses Bulegeya of Misleading Museveni Over Coffee Seedlings Contract
By Skika Reporter
State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere Nsubuga has accused Masaka City NRM chairman Rogers Bulegeya of misleading President Yoweri Museveni to secure a government contract for the supply of coffee seedlings before allegedly failing to fulfil the agreement and pay farmers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Nameere said she had petitioned President Museveni in 2025 to support farmers in Masaka City with coffee seedlings, a request she says the President approved.
According to the minister, Bulegeya requested to accompany her to the meeting with the President so that he could present his own proposal. She alleges that during the meeting, Bulegeya claimed he had millions of coffee seedlings ready for distribution, leading to his award of the supply contract.
Nameere claims Bulegeya later failed to deliver the agreed seedlings after it became clear he did not have the required stock. She further alleges that he proposed what she described as an “air supply” arrangement and suggested sharing the proceeds from the contract, an offer she says she rejected.
“I do not deal. I do not steal. To avoid any conflict of interest, I do not supply government,” Nameere said, adding that she remains committed to fighting corruption.
The minister said she gave Bulegeya 48 hours to begin supplying the seedlings or risk being reported to the President. She alleges that he later sourced seedlings from 14 local farmers but still failed to deliver the agreed quantities.
According to Nameere, President Museveni subsequently authorised her to complete the distribution of the seedlings to the intended beneficiaries. She also said she advised the State House Comptroller that any payments relating to the contract should only be made in the presence of all 14 farmers to ensure each supplier received direct payment.
Nameere further alleged that Bulegeya owes the 14 farmers a combined Shs150 million for seedlings supplied under the arrangement. She dismissed claims that she personally owes the money, saying the amount relates to payments allegedly due from Bulegeya to the farmers.
The minister also accused Bulegeya of orchestrating a campaign to discredit her after she insisted that the farmers be paid. She claimed one of the suppliers, Cissy Nanyange, had been encouraged to publicly accuse her of owing Shs150 million, an allegation she denied.
Nameere said the matter was discussed during a meeting attended by Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, where, she claimed, the other farmers confirmed they had supplied seedlings to Bulegeya.
She further linked the dispute to her opposition to the release of a suspect accused of stealing Parish Development Model funds, alleging that a minister allied to Bulegeya later supported efforts to tarnish her reputation.
Bulegeya had not publicly responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
