By Aggrey Baba
As Uganda counts down to 2026, the elections are shaping up as a financial battlefield, and NRM is already sailing ahead with a mountain of billions.
President Yoweri Museveni, earlier this week instructed Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama to release the UGX 11.2 billion ( which have for some time been dormantly sleeping on EC’s bank accounts) to political parties for campaign activities. But unlike earlier assumptions that the money would be shared equally, the funds, reportedly, will follow the size of each party’s army in Parliament, giving NRM the lion’s share and leaving smaller parties scrambling for leftovers.
At the recent Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit at Kololo Independence Grounds, political leaders from NRM, FDC, DP, UPC, JEEMA, and PPP gathered to decide how the money would be divided. The National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Bobi Wine stayed on the shore, sidelined for refusing to sign the IPOD memorandum of understanding (MoU), citing lack of transparency and unimplemented resolutions by the NRM.
The initial meetings, chaired by Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, reportedly focused on preliminary debates over campaign financing and fund allocation. Secretary generals (SGs) met first to hash out disagreements, with some arguing for equal sharing, claiming that their parties needed money to survive the expensive campaign season, while others insisted that the money should favor those with more MPs.
When the party presidents arrived, Museveni personally took charge of the discussions, stressing the urgency of releasing the money because many parties were already in debt, having used personal money to prepare for campaigns.
EC’s Byabakama confirmed he would release the funds next week (allegedly on Tuesday), following the official directive that allocation should be based on parliamentary dominance.
According to the calculations shared at the summit, NRM, with 342 MPs, will receive UGX 9.7 billion. FDC, with 30 MPs, will get UGX 857.1 million, UPC’s 11 MPs will share UHX 313.4 million, DP’s 9 MPs will receive UGX 256.4 million, and JEEMA and PPP, each represented by a single MP, will receive UGX 28.4 million each.
Despite boosting 57 MPs, NUP will receive nothing for refusing to participate in IPOD, as required by a law passed in May this year (which many say it targeted rhe NUP) that bars non-participating political parties from accessing government funding, unlike before, when it was all about having MPs in parliament.
This exposes a political ocean where NRM sails with full sails while opposition parties row with leaky canoes, and delays in fund releases.
NUP’s decision to stay out of IPOD adds another twist to the story, as the party’s absence has left it like a ship anchored in the harbor, watching the waves of political maneuvering from a distance. Analysts say this stance may help NUP appear principled, but it also means missing out on government funding, leaving the party financially weaker than NRM and other opposition groups.
As presidential campaigns kick off on September 29 and parliamentary nominations move to October 22n and 23, NRM’s treasury gives it a powerful wind at its back, while opposition parties battle a rough sea of debts, limited resources, and political obstacles. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
