Renowned singer Irene Namubiru has revealed heartbreaking details about her troubled relationship with her mother, stemming from a traumatic incident in 2013. Speaking during the Tusker Malt Conversations, an artist-focused platform by Swangz Avenue, Namubiru recounted how a betrayal by her own family led to an 11-year estrangement.
Shocking Betrayal After Surviving a Traumatic Ordeal
The singer, known for hits like Nkuweki, Mpulira, and Nsonyiwa, survived a drug-related scandal in Japan. However, when she returned home, she was met with rejection from her mother and siblings. She later discovered that her mother had been involved in framing her for drug trafficking.
“My own mother was part of the scheme to frame me. That paralyzed me, and I have never recovered from the shock,” she revealed.
On top of the betrayal, her father died just three weeks after the Japan incident, adding to her emotional turmoil.
Attempts to Reconcile Were Shut Down
Namubiru tried to clear her name and hoped for an honest conversation with her mother. However, she was met with outright rejection.
“She banged the door and told me, ‘I don’t want to listen to what you are saying,’ before I even explained myself,” she recalled.
Feeling unheard, she recorded their conversations as proof of the hostility she endured. The pain of the betrayal has never faded. Even hearing her mother’s voice makes her physically ill.
“I don’t know anyone who has disparaged me as much as my own mother in this world,” she confessed.
A Book That May Reveal the Full Story
Namubiru has written a manuscript detailing her experiences. However, a publisher advised her to delay its release due to the sensitive nature of its content.
“I have a manuscript and recordings. Maybe if I die, the book will be published, and the audio recordings will be released,” she stated.
Despite her pain, she urged parents to listen to their children and acknowledge their mistakes.
The 2013 Japan Incident
In 2013, Japanese authorities arrested Namubiru for carrying MDGF, a narcotic made from cocaine worth Shs 1.9 billion. The drugs were hidden in portraits of President Museveni and Kabaka Ronald Mutebi.
She spent a month in jail before being set free. Her Japanese lawyers successfully proved that she was an unwitting courier, tricked by her promoter into transporting the drugs. The concert she was scheduled to perform at was canceled following her arrest.
