It was a rare moment of candour from a high-ranking government official— one that offered an unfiltered glimpse into the complex, and often troubling, relationship between Ugandan politicians and money.
Sitting down with NTV’s Sudhir Byaruhanga, Evelyn Anite Kajik, Uganda’s state minister for Investment and Privatization, revealed something most voters have long suspected—but few politicians have dared admit: politics in Uganda runs on money, and often, on reckless, unaccountable spending.
“I used to find it very easy to just wake up, go to the bank, withdraw Shs 100 million, drive to Koboko, and within two days, I had blown the money—and I wouldn’t even know how to account for it,” she said, almost in disbelief at her own past.
Anite’s confessions peel back the veil on the personal financial toll and general dysfunction within Uganda’s political machinery—where handouts and informal “support” have come to define the practice of representation.
Before her ouster in the 2020 NRM primaries, Evelyn Anite served as the elected member of parliament for Youth Northern Region Region 2011 to 2016 and Koboko Municipality in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region from 2016 to 2021. In the 2020 National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections, Anite lost her seat to Charles Ayume, the son of the late Francis Ayume, a former Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament.
THE EXPECTATION ECONOMY: GIVING WITHOUT ASKING
Anite didn’t stop at that first figure. She later revealed spending Shs 500 million in just one week in her West Nile constituency of Koboko Municipality.
“That very evening [after arriving in Koboko], people would come to me. And by the time they approach, your mind is already conditioned to assume they are coming to ask for money. Even before they speak, you’re already reaching into your pocket to give them something.”
She went on to describe how the money was spent: road openings, support to women’s groups, boda boda riders, education initiatives, and random handouts to individuals along the roadside.
“I remember putting Shs 5 million in my bag and just walking from my home… At every stage, I’d hand out about Shs 50,000 to different people—and I did it all willingly.” Today, Anite looks back with a mix of regret and clarity.
“Now I think to myself—Oh my God, could I ever go back and do that again, knowing what I know now about the value of money? I wouldn’t. If I ever go back into politics, I would do it very differently.”
Her words didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Just days before, President Yoweri Museveni gifted each member of parliament Shs 100 million, a total of over Shs 50 billion, allegedly as a “facilitation” to help them better engage in the budgeting process.
While the official explanation was that this was a well-meaning gesture to empower MPs, critics—and ordinary citizens—saw it differently. They saw patronage, they saw bribery, and they saw yet another sign that Uganda’s democracy is shaped more by wallets than will.
“President Museveni gave them this money in good faith to support their work on the budget and allow them to return to their constituencies equipped to serve better,” said Lydia Wanyoto, chairperson of the NRM Women’s League and a close insider to the meeting that reportedly approved the funds. But others weren’t so convinced.
A CULTURE OF “TOKENISM” AND SILENT TRANSACTIONS
According to multiple MPs and insiders, this was not the first time such funds were distributed. Nor, it seems, will it be the last.
“It’s a workaround,” one anonymous MP revealed. “Since 2022, when we got Shs 40 million, and then Shs 100 million last year, this has been the trend. It’s not just for NRM members—opposition MPs get it too, although they often deny it.”
That contradiction—public outrage versus private acceptance—exposes a deep hypocrisy within Uganda’s political class. Several MPs denounced the payouts on air, but records allegedly show they signed for the money.
Even President Museveni added to the confusion, appearing to confirm the handouts without taking responsibility.
“Now, these opposition MPs want to talk about Shs 100 million? Have they ever spoken out against foreign money being used to influence our politics?” he said in a televised statement, shifting blame while revealing the complexity of political loyalty and funding.
Anite’s revelations now give a human face to what has often been whispered about in closed corridors: Ugandan politicians often spend far beyond their means to secure political support, leaving them financially drained, morally compromised, or beholden to powerful benefactors.
It also explains the constant clamour for “facilitation” from State House, especially during heated legislative debates or election cycles. And when elected officials begin seeing money as a prerequisite for parliamentary service, a dangerous precedent is set—where legislation is passed not on merit, but on monetary inducement.
A DEMOCRACY IN TRANSACTION
Anite’s self-awareness and public honesty deserve some credit. Very few politicians admit what she has. But her story is not just a personal one—it is systemic. It points to a broader question that Uganda must now confront: How can a nation build an accountable democracy when campaign survival depends on informal cash economies and undisclosed political financing?
If every MP has a price, if every vote in parliament is tied to a payout, and if every political dream demands financial ruin, then what future does representative governance really have?
The backlash from civil society has been swift. With teachers, health workers, and judicial officers demanding pay rises amid rising inflation, the optics of MPs receiving Shs 100 million behind closed doors is not just distasteful—it’s a breaking point.
Meanwhile, Uganda continues to borrow heavily to fund its budget. With 27% of the national budget financed by loans and grants, can the country afford this cycle of informal compensation and legislative tokenism? As one citizen asked on social media: “If Shs 100 million can be gifted to MPs in secret, how much is given that we’ll never know about?”
m7 will never will an election. he only splashes money but still beat people to be left to rig.
now people like wanyotooo….. we hear mutende james died in very unclear circumstances, like his uncle wapa. well lets leave that bcoz wanyoto is thriving on wapaz legacy
sseguya, agreed.
Only Ugandas will have the POWER needed by saying NO to the tribalistic system Rwandese Museveni so so cleaverly put in place, then UNITE to block & show him way out!
As long as tribal leaders are in posts, Ugandans go for fake elections, it means they still want him, especially as there is no Common Leader, no Common Goal & Ugandans just look up to Museveni!
Next fake elections will only bolster & further protect Museveni, ensure his ownership of Uganda & tax money & who is gives it to & for whatever job they do to please & ensure his ownership of Uganda!
All the bad things happening in Uganda today came with M7 and his coyotes from the bush such as inept and highest level corrupted MPs in the whole world, torture, killings, nepotism, thieving civil servants. Anyway the list is too long to fit on this page except that the country is a total wreck that will take many years to rebuild and also heal peoples minds to be honest citizens.
Fellow Ugandans, this is where we’re, “It also explains the constant clamour for “facilitation” from State House, especially during heated legislative debates or election cycles. And when elected officials begin seeing money as a prerequisite for parliamentary service, a dangerous precedent is set—where legislation is passed not on merit, but on monetary inducement.” In other words, politics in Uganda is a business to make money, not to represent of serve the people. That’s why Omubanda wa Kabaka, Kyagulanyi, “jumped” from music to politics. Omuyaye yabuuka! Kyagulanyi is now urging the youth to join politics, get elected and make money. Period. Each and every MP makes money without any relevance and/or meaning to our nation. There’s absolutely nothing we, Ugandans, benefit from the govt, executive, parliament and judiciary. Zero. Only to keep M7 in power so that they, politicians and those in power, keep making money.
Just imagine 50b from M7 to MPs! That money could build a state-of-the-art hospital that could help all Ugandans.
Where does M7 get such amount of money? Not only does it reveal how deep M7’s pocket is, but also how taxpayers’ money is being wasted on politics in order to keep M7 in power.
Remase you have a point of warning the citizens of this country. They need not say they were not warned about the mismanagement of the country’s finances that is happening for many years and counting! Of course the message being sent from such Uganda electoral corruption is for the Kingdom State of Buganda to secede from a gentleman’s political relationship with several neighbouring African tribal states. Surely corruption is not a disease that has some medicinal treatment that will manage to stop it. Uganda political corruption is an activity that will not go away now many years and counting. That is why such uncontrolled electoral corruption is creating a Uganda Republican state that has two honourable presidents. It will not surprise many if third or fourth presidents are formulated in this country. The advice is for the Kingdom state of Buganda not to continue to participate in such violent and rigged national elections that are not free and fair. The Buganda state to persevere to participate willingly in such a national corruptive electoral process does so at its own peril.