KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, has expressed profound concern over what he termed the “alarming level of commercialization of politics” in Uganda.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!His strong remarks were directly prompted by President Yoweri Museveni’s recent suspension of elections for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Entrepreneurs League.
This high-profile internal party contest was halted following explosive allegations of bribery and widespread irregularities in the race between two prominent business figures, Hassan Basajjabalaba and Ceasar Mulenga.
Party officials confirmed that the suspension was triggered by deepening disputes and formal complaints of corruption, forcing the highly anticipated vote to elect the Chairperson of the Entrepreneurs League to the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to be postponed until further notice.
Speaking to the media, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa questioned the rationale behind individuals investing vast sums of money to acquire a position that is fundamentally advisory.
“Why would someone spend Shs.5B to sit in the CEC, yet the position is largely voluntary? This level of commercialization of politics is beyond acceptable, and we must change the way we handle politics within the country,” said Tayebwa.
The Deputy Speaker confirmed that as a concerned party member, he and others would now swing into action to save the NRM from becoming a party exclusively for billionaires and to reaffirm its commitment to being a party that favors grassroots individuals in communities.
The corrosive effect of money is a longstanding issue in Ugandan politics, starkly evident in recent NRM party primaries where candidates used vast sums to win the flag, undermining democracy and sidelining less-affluent contenders.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Uganda have raised concerns about the commercialization of politics, citing its detrimental effects on the country’s democracy.
Several notable NGOs, including the Alliance for Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), have advocated for reforms by calling for stricter laws to curb the commercialization of politics.
Other advocates include the Cross-Cultural Foundation, which emphasizes transparency in campaign financing, and Recreation for Development and Peace Uganda, which highlights the dangers of donation politics.
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