By Benard Opio Aka Bhendril Hopio
We are just back from two dramatic days of nominations for Members of Parliament across the country.
The Electoral Commission has confirmed a total of 519 elective positions up for grabs including 353 directly elected MPs, 146 district and city woman representatives, and 20 seats for special interest groups representing Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and Youths.
A few candidates have already been declared unopposed, guaranteeing their places in Uganda’s 12th Parliament even before voting begins.
They include Speaker Anita Annet Among (Bukedea Woman MP), Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North, Mitooma), Lillian Paparu Obiale (Arua Woman MP), and Ruth Rujoki Mushabe (Kiruhura Woman MP) and others keeps on dropping.
Their unopposed victories may symbolize political dominance, but elsewhere in the country, the real competition is not about ideas it seems to be about cash.
While the process was generally peaceful and colourful, what unfolded across the country has left many people reflecting deeply on the nature of our politics.
As the dust settles and the campaign season takes on, one question lingers in my mind: Are we still choosing leaders based on their ideas, or are we simply selling our votes to the highest bidder?
During the nomination days, I witnessed the kind of spending that makes one wonder whether elections in Uganda have become an auction.
Lorries, buses, and even boda bodas were hired to ferry supporters to rallies.
Bouncers were on standby to control the crowds, loud music blared through expensive sound systems, and branded T-shirts flooded every trading center.
The energy was high, but beneath it all, money was flowing like water.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between a political campaign and a financial transaction.
In almost every district, candidates are digging deep into their pockets to impress voters, not with their manifestos, but with handouts.
For many politicians, it’s no longer about convincing the electorate through debate or policy. It’s about buying visibility, buying loyalty, and in many cases, buying silence.
But here is the problem: once these candidates finally win, what do we expect from them? Having spent millions or even billions on campaigns, the natural temptation is to recover that money first.
That means the first years in office may be spent chasing contracts, cutting corners, or engaging in deals that benefit the individual, not the voter.
As Ugandans, we must also take a fair share of the blame. We have nurtured a culture that values instant reward over long-term progress.
When a politician approaches us, the first question many ask is, “What have you brought for us?” Instead of, “What is your plan for our community?”
This mindset has trapped us in a cycle of poverty and poor leadership. Politicians now move around with envelopes of money instead of policy documents because that’s what we seem to understand best.
It’s heartbreaking to see that political discourse has been replaced with price tags.
Instead of rallies where ideas are debated, we now have concerts of noise, freebies, and false promises. Instead of manifestos, we get T-shirts and small tokens.
Unless we change this mindset, the future of Uganda’s democracy will remain uncertain. We must start demanding issues, not items.
We must reward integrity, not extravagance. The power to change lies with us, the voters.
When the campaigns heat up and candidates come knocking, let’s ask the right questions: What will you do for our schools? For our health centers? For our farmers and youth? That is the only way we shall elect leaders who serve, not sellers who buy.