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Voter bribery hikes costs of election campaigns in Uganda - EC

Mr Steven Tashobya, EC Commissioner in Charge of the Kiira Region,  during a stakeholders meeting in Jinja on update and display of voters' register. PHOTO/TAUSI NAKATO

What you need to know:

  • Many constituencies experience a change in Members of Parliament (MPs) every term due to the inability of elected legislators to effectively represent their constituents. Legislators often spend much of their time recovering campaign expenses.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has raised concerns about the high costs of by-elections caused by the commercialization of politics.

“We have many elections that have been nullified, especially in the Busoga Sub-region, due to voter bribery,” said Mr Steven Tashobya, the EC Commissioner in Charge of the Kiira Region, during a stakeholders' meeting in Jinja on updating and displaying the national voter register. “We end up spending a lot of money in organizing by-elections.”

Mr Tashobya revealed that some parliamentary candidates spend between Shs500m and Shs2b on their campaigns, exceeding what they can earn in Parliament.

“These parliamentary candidates spend a lot of money in campaigns—more than they earn in Parliament. Most people sell their items like farms and land. Some succeed, while others fail,” he noted.

He further explained that many constituencies experience a change in Members of Parliament (MPs) every term due to the inability of elected legislators to effectively represent their constituents. Legislators often spend much of their time recovering campaign expenses.

“In some constituencies, it’s like a culture—they get different MPs every term because the legislators don’t have time to represent them. They are burdened with loans, chased by court brokers, and unable to concentrate, represent, or lobby for government programs,” he said. “Winners use illicit and irregular ways while in office to recover the money.”

Mr Tashobya also highlighted cases where MPs were removed from Parliament due to voter bribery.

“In Busoga, an MP was removed from Parliament for giving out Shs5m. In Bunyoro, another MP was removed for distributing Shs10m to repair a water source during campaigns,” he said. “This waters down the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament.”

Mr Deo Natukunda, the Returning Officer for the Kiira Region, urged voters to make choices based on conscience rather than financial influence.

“We don’t encourage commercialization of elections because it is a bad culture,” Mr Natukunda said. “If they buy (bribe) you, you vote for a particular person not out of your choice or mind but out of influence.”

He called on voters to prioritize their conscience when selecting their leaders.

Ms Joy Kawanguzi, Executive Director of the First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO), emphasized that commercialization of politics is hindering the country from getting quality leaders.

“In the Busoga Sub-region, it is worse because it is at its peak. If voters are given money, they are blinded and unable to make the right decision,” Ms. Kawanguzi said. “This person will not represent you well because they will be focused on recovering the money invested in campaigns.”

Ms Kawanguzi stressed the need for prioritizing the fight against the commercialization of elections to ensure transparency.

“As FABIO, we are partnering with an NGO forum to sensitize the public about election commercialization,” she said. “We also appeal to the government to take it as a priority.”

In July 2024, during a week-long retreat at the National Leadership Institute, the Cabinet endorsed a proposal aimed at curbing the commercialization of politics. If enacted, violators of laws regulating campaign financing could face imprisonment or fines.

These concerns emerge as the country prepares for the January 2026 General Elections.