The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Demand for deliverables
In his 2016 paper, “Money Matters: Financing Illiberal Democracy in Uganda,” Dr. Julius Kiiza noted how Ugandan voters use the election season to demand for deliverables “here and now.”
Kiiza noted that depressing social demographics are a factor. For instance, close to 70% of Uganda’s population are rural-based peasants while millions of youths aged 15-35 are unemployed.
Although Uganda’s economy has grown rapidly with rates of 6.3% since 1992, some economic figures hardly reflect in ordinary people’s lives. Kiiza said in large part, the poverty is a product of state failure to deliver transformative developmental outcomes.
The electorate has since learnt that the decision to improve the quality of health care, primary education, roads or agricultural extension services is outside the control of an elected MP, LCV Chairperson or councilor.
But the electorate knows that the same elected leaders have access to economic opportunities which they tap into; sometimes illegally to enrich themselves. With this at the back of their minds, the electorate now demands to be paid to vote or participate in meetings and seminars even when they are the consumers and beneficiaries of the programmes.
This explains why it has become much more expensive to run for an MP seat especially in western Uganda. Muguzi told The Independent that much as there seems to be a mismatch in expectations between the electorate and the legislators, the MPs in the 11th Parliament will have to do what exactly is expected of them.
During a recent retreat for newly elected MPs of the ruling NRM party, President Yoweri Museveni accused the MPs in the 10th Parliament of ignoring people’s needs and instead choose to squander the government resources on unnecessary issues.
Museveni said he would not tolerate MPs wasting taxpayers’ money on extravagant trips abroad. Museveni was addressing the newly elected MPs who were on a three-week retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
“You are members of the NRM. I do not want to fight with you but this time, we shall fight you,” Museveni said.
“Sometimes I do not want to embarrass my NRM members, so I talk hoping that they will understand but they don’t and they end up involving all of us in mistakes. It is not correct to squander the scarce resources of the country on travelling.
During the retreat, Museveni asked the new MPs to get more serious about addressing issues affecting their electorate, especially poverty.
“Our people must get out of poverty, ignorance and bad housing and live a prosperous life,” he said, “Your people in the village; your mothers and grandmothers are still carrying water on their head, but you are here in Parliament acting like clowns; point of order; point of information. It is like you are in the theatre. When will the homesteads in your village get income, good houses and electricity?”
