Irene Namubiru, known for soulful hits like Nkuweki and Mpulira, recently shared the painful story of her family’s betrayal during Tusker Malt Conversations. The singer revealed that her 2013 arrest in Japan for drug smuggling led to an emotional fallout with her family—especially her mother.
Namubiru was detained in Japan after being unknowingly tricked into carrying drugs worth Shs 1.9 billion. Though her Japanese lawyers successfully cleared her name, the emotional toll didn’t end there. When she returned to Uganda, she faced rejection from her family, including her mother, who was allegedly involved in framing her.
“My own mother was part of the scheme to frame me. That’s something I’ve never recovered from,” she shared, visibly shaken by the memory.
The pain deepened after her father’s sudden death, just weeks after the Japan incident. Irene attempted to talk to her mother, but was met with cold rejection. “She slammed the door and refused to listen,” she recalled.
Years of silence followed, and Irene has not spoken to her mother in over a decade. She admitted that just hearing her mother’s voice makes her physically sick.
Despite the ongoing pain, Irene has written a book about her experience, although a publisher advised her to hold off on its release due to the sensitive nature of the content. “Maybe if I die, the book will be published,” she said.
In her conversation, Irene also emphasized the importance of parents listening to their children and owning up to their mistakes. Despite her painful past, she remains determined to keep moving forward.
