A new report released today by the public policy institute, Westminster foundation for democracy and the Netherlands institute for multiparty democracy reveals that for a candidate to win a seat in parliament need to spend over Ugx.500 million and close to Ugx.200 for the LCv seat, something which has kick out women and youths out of politics in Uganda.
The research further reveals that candidates in 2016 primaries and general elections in Uganda spent on average UGX.465 million to run for parliament and UGX.237.5 million to run for local council V.
Reading report finding, Emmanuel Kitamirike and Peter Kisaakye reveal that candidates in the western and central region spend much more highly than counterparts in the north and eastern region with candidates from the ruling NRM are spending highly in the campaigns than those in the opposition.
Central region emerges as the most expensive region for anyone to hold a political position followed by the western and eastern being the least expensive for anyone to hold a political position.
The drivers to the highly commercialized politics in Uganda include inadequate service delivery, high emoluments and privileges for MPs, lack of enforcement of campaign rules, low levels of civic consciousness among electorates, weak political institutions among others.
Meanwhile Frank Lusa from the Netherlands institute for multiparty democracy warns that the highly monetized or commercialized politics is greatly threatening inclusive participation and slows down the growth of democracy in Uganda.
But the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) president Gen. Mugisha Muntu attributes the growing commercialization of politics in Uganda to the continued manipulation of parliament by the state which according to him needs to be reversed as JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa wants the local governments empowered to lift off pressure from legislators.
Mercy Kobusingye from the national youth council thinks that this can be stopped if voters are empowered with enough civic education to be able to elect leaders of substance rather than basing on cash.
Though the report recommends the need to promote political accountability, tackle patriarchal politics, review the criteria on political funding, review the stature of political graft, DP chairman general Hon. Nobert Mao is strongly disagreeing with the recommendations.
