The escalating cost of elections in Uganda is reshaping the political landscape, turning democracy into a marketplace where money, rather than merit or public service, determines the winners. The latest figures indicate that the 2021 general elections, covering just 29 districts, saw a staggering Shs796.6 billion spent on campaigns, making it the most expensive election process to date. As the 2026 elections approach, the high financial stakes are raising significant concerns about the integrity of the democratic process.
The pressure of financing campaigns is forcing candidates to treat their election bids as investments to be recouped once in office, leading to a crisis of accountability in Uganda’s political system. Many politicians, once elected, find themselves prioritizing the recovery of money borrowed or invested in their campaigns rather than focusing on serving the public. This vicious cycle undermines trust in the political system and leaves voters disillusioned.
Samia Bugwe Central MP Denis Nyangweso explained that the financial burden of elections is exacerbated by an electorate that has lost faith in their leaders. In this environment, voters often demand money in exchange for their support, making elections an expensive and transactional affair.
This trend forces candidates to borrow large sums or sell property to finance their campaigns, knowing that once in office, the pressure to recover those funds within a five-year term is immense. Failure to do so often results in significant personal and financial distress.
Former Rukungiri Municipality MP Ronald Kaginda Mugume echoed these concerns, noting that new legislators often borrow from moneylenders or banks, with high expectations for quick repayment.
He stressed that many view Parliament as a business opportunity rather than a platform to address the needs of the people, a mindset that severely undermines the effectiveness of the legislative body.
Robert Ssekitoleko, the Bamunanika County MP, added that excessive spending during campaigns leads to poor performance in Parliament. With a focus on recovering campaign investments, many legislators fail to fulfill their primary duty of representing their constituents. Instead of working on policies and addressing national issues, their time and energy are consumed by the burden of debt.
Marion Agaba, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), bluntly stated that Uganda’s democracy is now treated as a commodity for sale. She explained that candidates with significant financial backing are more likely to win elections, but once in power, they often fail to represent the interests of the people. Their victory is the result of financial power, not public trust, leading to unaccountable leadership and poor governance.
Agaba called for stronger laws to regulate campaign spending, including limits on the amount candidates can spend and requirements for disclosing the sources of campaign funds. She also urged the Electoral Commission (EC) and the judiciary to enforce existing laws against voter bribery, which remains rampant despite repeated warnings from the EC. The commission has called on religious institutions to cease fundraising activities that could be construed as bribery, emphasizing that such practices undermine the legitimacy of elections.
With the cost of democracy on the rise, Uganda’s political system faces a critical challenge: how to restore trust in the electoral process and ensure that elected officials prioritize the public’s interest over financial gain.
Until these issues are addressed, the future of Uganda’s democracy remains in jeopardy, with elections increasingly seen as a business venture rather than a means of serving the people.
