Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has voiced strong concern over the growing commercialisation of politics, particularly within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“Why would someone spend Shs5 billion to sit in the CEC, yet the position is largely voluntary? It’s for mobilising for the party, it’s for advising the President,” Tayebwa remarked, questioning the motives behind extravagant campaign spending.
He further warned against the alarming trend of candidates taking out loans to finance their campaigns, stressing that leadership should not be treated as “a matter of life and death.”
“Why should anyone issue threats? People are getting loans for these elections,” Tayebwa cautioned.
His comments come as the NRM Delegates Conference continues at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. The four-day event, which started on 25 August and runs until 28 August, includes elections for key positions in the Central Executive Committee (CEC) — the party’s highest decision-making organ.
While some winners have already been declared, other elections have been suspended or postponed following allegations of bribery, vote buying, and the transportation of non-delegates to participate in voting.
The concerns raised by Tayebwa echo growing public criticism about the high cost of politics in Uganda, with fears that financial muscle is increasingly overshadowing merit and commitment to service.
