Celebrated Ugandan singer Iryn Namubiru has made a startling revelation, disclosing that she has been estranged from her mother, Justine Nyanzi Namawejje, for over 11 years a fallout sparked by what she describes as a profound betrayal.
The revelation comes shortly after the launch of her deeply personal memoir, “My Mother Knows: My Journey to Healing,” in which Iryn Namubiru shares the emotional and complex dynamics of her relationship with her mother and extended family.
According to Namubiru , the rift began after she discovered that her mother was allegedly involved in an attempt to smuggle ecstasy by secretly placing the drugs in Namubiru’s luggage ahead of a trip to Japan.
Namubiru says her mother was fully aware of the serious consequences had she been caught, including possible imprisonment or death.
Rather than receiving support during the ordeal, Namubiru says she was met with coldness and even hostility from her family. The betrayal, she says, left lasting emotional scars.
“I had not held onto this information in a bid to protect my mother, per se, because most of the things I went through, she knew. But she was shielding all these people who hurt me anyway.”Namubiru disclosed.
“I was trapped in the thoughts of, if I complain, I will look bad, and if I tell the truth, people would not believe me.”,she added.
In a shocking twist, the singer claims to possess audio recordings of her mother discussing the drug plot. She reveals that her will includes instructions for these recordings to be played publicly at her funeral ensuring the truth is eventually heard, no matter what.
The final straw, according to Namubiru, came when she overheard her mother making false and damaging allegations, including claims that the singer had neglected her grandmother and even participated in witchcraft by exhuming her grandparents’ remains accusations Namubiru flatly denies.
It was at that moment, she says, that she decided to stop protecting others and start telling her truth regardless of how it might be received.
Her candid memoir and recent revelations have sparked widespread reaction across social media, with fans and the public expressing shock, sympathy, and admiration for her bravery in speaking out.