No Money, No Membership: Mpuuga Says Only Paying Members Will Join His Party, Declares He Won’t Grow Potatoes to Fund Politics

By Aggrey Baba
The President of the Democratic Front (DF), Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, has said that the future of political parties in Uganda depends on citizens taking full responsibility for the parties they support, including financing their day-to-day activities through regular contributions.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mpuuga, who’s also the Mp for Nyendo-Mukungwe, explained that DF will not rely on foreign funders or handouts but will instead be financed entirely by its members through a structured monthly subscription model.

Mpuugansaid they are building a people’s party, and the  party is not going to plant potatoes or maize to survive, but will stand on the shoulders of its legitimate members who believe in the cause and are willing to support it financially.

The DF has introduced four categories of membership (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum), with monthly payments ranging from UGX 2,000 to UGX 1 million. Every member will be expected to choose a category and commit to contributing regularly as part of their obligation to the party.

According to the party’s National Mobiliser, Hon. Michael Mabike, this model is also aimed at instilling discipline, ownership, and accountability.

Unlike other political parties where one simply registers or declares interest and is issued a membership card, DF requires individuals to first fill out an application form, go through a vetting process, and only after successful screening are they issued a membership card and categorised accordingly.

To speed up recruitment and reach diverse groups, the party has also introduced what it calls “rolling membership,” which allows organised groups (such as teachers, doctors, lawyers, market vendors, and boda boda riders) to form branches if they are 100 members or more. Such branches will be officially recognised, given a number, and guided on how to relate with the party headquarters.

Mpuuga explained that the goal is to create a politically active, self-reliant membership base that doesn’t wait for election season to get involved.

Since its declaration, just a month ago, the DF has reported what it terms as overwhelming interest across the country, although official figures on registered members have not yet been released.

The party’s decision to openly reject donor dependency is by many as a bold and long-overdue move in Uganda’s multiparty landscape.

Still, the question remains whether ordinary Ugandans (many of whom are already economically strained) will be willing or able to consistently contribute money to a political organisation.

Nonetheless, DF leaders remain confident that their model will build a stronger foundation for political engagement. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).