Long-serving Uganda President Museveni denies ever bribing voters
Uganda’s longstanding President, Yoweri Museveni, has declared that he has never resorted to voter bribery during his extensive political career.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, made this revelation during a meeting with the flagbearers and chairpersons of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party from five divisions of Kampala on Tuesday, September 5.
The President emphatically termed the act of bribing voters as a “colossal mistake, counterproductive, and unnecessary” and discouraged politicians in his party from engaging in the politics of handouts.
“Politics is about consistently conveying one’s ideologies and policies until the ideas resonate with the electorate,” Museveni asserted.
He urged his fellow party members to focus on promoting government programs and fostering unity among Ugandans to create a common market for goods rather than resorting to vote buying.
“It will be good if the people listen to what these leaders are proposing and elect them. If they are not elected, they should move on, do other activities, and remain financially stable,” he advised.
Also read: Museveni skips Climate Summit in Kenya as Bobi Wine intensifies campaigns
President Museveni stressed that maintaining financial stability and integrity is crucial for politicians. He drew a parallel between politicians and doctors, saying:
“For all my 63 years in Uganda’s politics, I have never sold my cows to facilitate elections. Politics is about diagnosis and prescription. You’re like a doctor who checks for the disease, prescribes the medicine, and later, the doctor is paid – the sick pay the doctor, not the other way around.”
Museveni’s statement challenges the prevalent practice of vote buying observed in many African countries during election campaigns.
While most political parties engage in various mobilization methods, such as rallies and door-to-door canvassing, the distribution of handouts remains a common and controversial tactic.
The President’s declaration appears to signal a shift in his party’s approach to electoral politics, advocating for a focus on ideological consistency and public policy rather than relying on monetary incentives to secure votes.
Museveni concluded his address by reiterating the importance of consistently conveying the NRM’s message and promoting unity among Ugandans, signaling a commitment to a different political strategy in the upcoming elections.
Also read: 3 peculiarities as Uhuru Kenyatta visited Uganda President Museveni