By KT Reporter
Politicians who participated in the recently concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries for Erute South constituency have expressed deep concern over the growing monetization of the electoral process.
The race featured two candidates—former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Sam Engola, and former Resident District Commissioner, George Abdul. Engola won the contest with 18,572 votes, while Abdul garnered 2,852 votes out of a total of 21,424 cast.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Engola described the electoral process as “spoiled” due to widespread expectations for financial handouts among voters. He disclosed that he spent more money during the party primaries than he anticipates spending in the general elections.
His rival, George Abdul, shared a similar experience, recounting how a voter outright told him, “he won’t vote unless you give me something.” He emphasized the urgent need for civic education to shift public attitudes and restore the integrity of elections.
Crispus Ayena Odongo, the former Member of Parliament for Oyam North County, warned that this culture of voter bribery could undermine public service. He noted that politicians burdened with recovering campaign expenses may prioritize personal gain over genuine service delivery.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, also weighed in during a May 2026 engagement with the Equal Opportunities Commission. He revealed that the government allocates only Shs300 million annually for voter education—an amount he described as inadequate.
He explained that while the Commission uses the limited funds for public engagements via media and outreach programs, meaningful impact remains minimal without direct interaction with the public. “Our budget for voter education is only Shs300 million per financial year.
What meaningful outreach can that achieve? Effective voter education requires direct interaction with the public—you can’t demonstrate how to vote via radio,” said Byabakama. The sentiments from both politicians and electoral officials reflect a growing call for reform, as concerns about vote buying and uninformed electorates continue to threaten democratic processes in the country-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
