Uganda’s politics of do or die

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OPINION

By Obed K Katureebe

Yes, we are now into that political season where the elite are seeking various political offices. Political service is no longer a calling to serve people. Make no mistake. Political offices are now the most paying ones, both in remuneration and also the authority and power the bearers of those jobs carry.

Indeed, the political season is around the corner. Primary elections for the various political parties that intend to pick those that will be flagbearers are beginning in August 2025.

Come January or February 2026, the General elections will take place for the various political offices. These will include presidential, parliamentary and local council elections.

So far, there are all indications that these elections are going to be so hotly contested. There are also fears from most corners, including security, that there are so far all indications of threats, violence and intimidation during this period. Intending candidates are already crisscrossing their constituencies informally, canvasing for votes even when official nominations by the Electoral Commission have not yet taken place.

Such early canvassing of votes involves spending a lot of money. This is the period for the voters to harvest back from those who want their votes come 2026. Candidates for the various political offices are already making grandstanding pledges to the voters. And it can only get hotter and hotter as we roll closer to the nomination days.

The unfortunate thing is that we have crudely commercialised our politics, and as a result, seeking an elective political office is becoming a matter of life and death. This is largely because of the accruing benefits that people enjoy once they win such contests. The truth is, they become instant billionaires.    

The stakes are so high, and one wonders how the situation will be in early 2026. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) requested an additional sh138 billion to provide increased security during the 2026 general elections. This was while presenting their next financial year budget, 2025/26. Equally, the Uganda Police requested an additional sh300 billion in the next financial budget, 2025/2026, to also provide sufficient security during the 2026 general election.

To those who are naïve, they might think that this is an unnecessary financial request, but going by what is bubbling so far, we are in for the hottest and violent election unless something is done to reverse the current trends. By refusing to change procedures, we are inviting political turmoil and instability and undermining our young democracy.

And it is not too late. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is in the process of bringing on board several bills for electoral reforms to parliament. One hopes that among those many electoral reform bills, we include strong punitive measures that will be meted out to those who are bastardly commercialising our politics.

Maybe, it is time we made political rewards and remunerations so modest as to disinterest many who are looking for quick enrichment. The abnormally enhanced political rewards, especially for members of parliament, could be the reason this is becoming a do or die contest for those vying to become members of parliament. The commercialisation of elections significantly undermines the essence of democratic integrity by giving financial influence an edge over the collective will of the population.

The second aspect that impacts the conduct of free and fair elections is the commercialisation of politics, particularly the electoral processes. This has indeed, over time, become a cancer in our democratic journey. In Uganda today, one requires over sh1 billion to win as a member of parliament. This inevitably drives aspirants to look for these bags of money. Some of them even go to the extent of selling off their hard-earned, obtained property so as to bribe voters and be voted into office.

Uganda is in the same ‘elite’ league as Nigeria in terms of highly commercialised politics. We must curb this because the cost of this recklessness is much costly for us to live with.  

Because of such desperation, the contending candidates have gone to the gutters by making inciting statements and hence charging the voters into violent actions. Others have descended into tribal and ethnic incitements just to win voters.  To them, the end justifies the means.

The events that are unfolding in Sembabule so far are alarming. The two camps of Hon. Theodore Sekikubo and Brig. (rtd) Emmanuel Rwashande must be restrained. Everything is pointing to a nasty contest.

The Electoral Commission should be much empowered through tough legislation so that they are able to bite hard those that are debasing our electoral democracy. Such tough actions should include, among others, disqualifications at any stage if one veers off the electoral guidelines as set by the Electoral Commission.

Uganda is bigger than some selfish political actors who think anything dirty should be unleashed onto the masses for them to occupy those juicy political offices. We have much to lose than to gain if we allow such recklessness to continue.

Democracy is not the problem in Uganda. Voting is the problem. We need the reasoned voice of the people in all this. Citizens should have the chance to obtain the best possible information and engage with each other, and decide collectively upon their future. They should not be harassed and intimidated, or even harmed. Every effort should be made by those of us in leadership to protect the masses from being exploited by those competing for various political offices.

Unregulated elections can fuel nasty politics. If unregulated, it can ruin our economies, create instability, and the outcome can cause colossal problems for us all. We need to urgently reconsider the nature of our politics. This highly commercialised trend we are taking can fuel a systemic crisis. And as a result, we will undermine the democratic progress so far attained.

Hon. Norbert Mao and team, you have a lot on your table as you prepare to table the various Electoral Reform bills to parliament.  

The writer works with Uganda Media Centre