SPECIAL REPORT | As Uganda gears up for the 2026 general elections, a tense but quiet atmosphere blankets the country. Beneath this silence lies a highly commercialized electoral process where money plays a decisive role.
With political hopefuls emerging to contest various positions, the road ahead is marked by intense financial demands—ranging from voter inducements to campaign logistics.
Reports indicate that vote-buying remains a dominant force, with many Ugandans seeing elections as an opportunity to cash in while the highest-spending candidates secure victory. This trend raises concerns about the integrity of Uganda’s democracy and the true cost of leadership.
The 2021 general elections saw an unprecedented surge in campaign spending, reaching Shs3.983 trillion ($1.091 billion), highlighting the growing commercialization of politics.
Candidates for parliamentary and local government positions spent vast sums, with some individual expenditures soaring to Shs3 billion. A significant portion—59.6%—of these funds went toward voter enticement through cash handouts and community contributions, reinforcing the influence of money on election outcomes.
A report by the Alliance for Finance Monitoring (ACFIM) found that in 71.4% of races, financially dominant candidates won, further diminishing the electoral power of ordinary citizens.
Despite existing political finance laws prohibiting the misuse of government resources and voter bribery, enforcement remains weak.
The escalating cost of politics raises concerns that future elections may become accessible only to the wealthy, entrenching inequality in Uganda’s democratic process.
Jinja City, located 78km from the capital Kampala, is one of the areas where money politics is deeply entrenched. Women, who form the majority of voters in the Busoga sub-region, have become a prime target for politicians.
The 2024 Population Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates that Busoga’s population stands at over 4.3 million, with 2.3 million women and over 2 million eligible voters.
This makes women’s voices crucial in shaping the 2026 elections.
Targeted spending
Dr Timothy Batuwa, the Member of Parliament for Jinja South West, is among the politicians who have heavily invested in financial inducements. In a recent interview, he revealed that he has spent millions of shillings due to constituency demands, which range from paying school fees for needy children to transporting bodies of deceased constituents, buying motorcycles, and empowering women’s groups.
Though he does not recall the total amount spent during the 2021 general elections and throughout his five-year tenure, Batuwa, who is seeking re-election, admits that his financial contributions have been significant.
"My strategy is to help individual women. When I give Shs100,000 to a person, it has a greater impact than giving Shs500,000 to a group of 100 women," Batuwa said.
Many politicians in Busoga are ramping up efforts to secure votes, with women as their primary target. Political hopefuls are flooding the region with financial incentives, including soft loans, market vendor support, and donations to women’s groups.
However, many question whether this is genuine empowerment or just another cycle of political exploitation.
For years, women’s groups in Busoga have played a crucial role in mobilising votes. They are courted by politicians during campaign periods but are often left out of the conversation when it comes to service delivery.
Many women now express frustration, vowing not to be used again without tangible and lasting economic support.
Milly Ngumba, a member of the Kisanja Kulongoosa Group, a well-known National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilisation outfit in Busoga, admits that their efforts often go unrecognized once elections are over.
"During campaigns, many NRM candidates approach us and give us money, but they vanish after getting votes. They only appear when elections are near," she says.
Ngumba, like many women in the group, depends on casual labour for survival. She washes clothes for a living, while other members are market vendors and hawkers.
Without stable income sources, they often accept money from politicians, even when they know it’s a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.
"We are about 50 members, but the majority of us don’t have stable incomes. No leader is willing to empower us financially. They prefer giving handouts between Shs500,000 and Shs2 million, which can't help us in the long run," she laments.
'Reliable voters'
Betty Tukei Amuria, another member, shares similar frustrations, accusing politicians of using women for votes but failing to support their economic stability.
"We have campaigned for them for years, but when we ask for help to meet the President, they disappear until the next election cycle. This is very frustrating," she says.
Tired of being used every election season, Amuria and her group have decided to take a stand.
"No money, no vote in 2026. The people we vote for are not reliable, so we have decided to sell our votes," she declares.
Jennifer Nabirye, chairperson of the Magwa Parish Women Council in Jinja City, confirms that politicians target women’s groups because they know women are reliable voters.
"We know they are coming with their money, but we shall not vote for them," she warns.
Ms Shadia Kaunhe Mbabazi, a vendor at Madhvani Market in Jinja West, says she has campaigned for President Museveni and other NRM flag bearers for 20 years but has never benefited beyond campaign handouts.
"I am growing old, yet all the leaders we elect fail to fulfil their pledges. This time, I want money first before engaging in any campaigns," she said.
Women in Busoga are increasingly pushing for accountability. They propose that President Museveni establish a committee to investigate service delivery at the grassroots level.
They demand more than handouts—calling for financial empowerment, access to credit without impossible conditions, and better service delivery from elected leaders.
As the election season approaches, the message from many women in Busoga is clear: "We will not be used again. No money, no vote."
But beyond rejecting handouts, will women in Busoga and Uganda at large rise to demand accountability from their leaders? The 2026 elections may provide an answer.
Paul Kawanguzi, a contestant in Jinja South West Constituency, acknowledges that some competitors are using large financial resources to woo voters, particularly women’s groups and market vendors. However, he believes voters in his area are more informed than before.
"Money politics has been prevalent in Jinja South West, but voters must understand that those dishing out money are businessmen. They go to Parliament to make deals, not to represent the people," he warns.
Veteran politician Daudi Migereko provides historical context, recalling how an Apollo Milton Obote regime minister Mathias Ngobi mobilised cooperatives in Butembe County to strengthen farmers' bargaining power.
Migereko contrasts this with today’s monetised politics, lamenting that some politicians now mortgage their houses to finance campaigns, only to abandon voters once elected.
Justice Simon Byabakama, chairman of the Electoral Commission, has been vocal about the dangers of money politics. He warns that Ugandans have allowed their votes to be bought by the highest bidder.
"Ugandans must reject small cash handouts. Why accept Shs1,000 or Shs10,000 for your vote when a chicken costs Shs35,000 to Shs40,000? Does this mean a chicken is more valuable than you?" he asks.
Byabakama urges the media to take a more active role in educating citizens about civic responsibilities rather than just covering political scandals.
"Our population is largely young and unemployed, making them vulnerable to manipulation. The media should focus on policies addressing youth unemployment instead of fueling an already combustible situation," he says.
As Uganda moves closer to 2026, the commercialization of elections continues to raise concerns. Whether women in Busoga and beyond will demand real change remains to be seen.