State Minister for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite, has called for a reduction in Members of Parliament’s salaries as a measure to tackle the rising monetisation of politics and restore integrity.
The former Koboko Municipality legislator admitted her proposal may appear ironic coming from someone already in a senior government position, but she insisted her views are principled and not driven by personal interest.
“I said it from the time I received my first paycheque of Shs28 million—I felt it was too much,” she said. “That’s why people fight. That’s why they want to kill each other.”
She described Parliament as a beehive luring individuals not with a desire to serve but with the “honey” of financial reward.
“So maybe it’s time to remove the honey that’s attracting everyone. You see, even bees get drawn to sweetness. It’s the money,” she noted.
Anite argued that reducing legislators’ pay could help reduce the political pressure and desperation seen during elections, especially among professionals abandoning stable careers in pursuit of political office.
“If we strip the money out of our politics, the appetite for politics as a money-making venture will go down,” she said.
The minister also condemned the rampant voter bribery, excessive campaign spending, and cut-throat political competition that has increasingly defined Uganda’s political landscape.
“This is not right for any country. It doesn’t lead to development. The use of money in politics is out of control—it’s crazy, it’s insane,” Anite said.
She revealed that the financial burden of running for Parliament has become so extreme that some MPs have considered selling off personal property to remain competitive.
“Many sitting MPs have approached me, asking to sell their houses just to raise campaign funds. So where did this monetisation of politics come from?” she asked.
Her remarks follow widespread reports of chaos, voter bribery, and inflated campaign budgets in the recent NRM primaries, where candidates are said to have spent hundreds of millions of shillings.
Anite shared her own early experience in politics, admitting she was initially unaware of how financially draining the game could be.
“From the time I learned the value of money, I couldn’t justify throwing it away like that,” she said. “Someone told me they spent Shs600 million in a single day just to win by a small margin. And I asked—was it worth it? It’s just too expensive. That’s why people are desperate, that’s why they’re ready to kill for it.”
