Declare wealth, politicians told

Mukono

People who want to join politics should first declare their wealth and that of close relatives as a means of fighting corruption and commercialisation of politics, Makerere University academic, Dr Yasin Olum, has proposed.

While making a presentation during a two-day dialogue organised by the Electoral Commission for political party leaders in Mukono, Dr Olum said the measure would be implemented by the Inspectorate of Government who should be impartial to avoid witch-hunting.

He said part of the problem that faces multiparty democracy, similar to the one emerging in Uganda, was the commercialisation of politics with players investing huge sums of money in expectation of returns.

However, the NRM deputy spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, disagreed, saying it could be abused to block some candidates from participating in elections. “I don’t think this is something we should be reintroducing now because we don’t have good people to manage this kind of provision,” Mr Opondo said, alluding to the 1980 election under which he said Democratic Party candidates were blocked using a similar provision.

Dr Olum, while speaking about the NRM primaries that was marred by violence and malpractice said, independents should be banned and defections discouraged, adding that it promotes corruption. “Defectors are usually rewarded with political positions. It makes a mockery of democracy,” he said.