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UGANDA'S POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARIES; A MARKET PLACE FOR POWER
We are in a period when political parties in Uganda are carrying out internal party elections to determine the candidates they will send into the general elections. The political temperature is high for both the candidates and their supporters, as reported in the media. My observations of the happenings in different parties have left me questioning the relevance of primaries given these media reports. Recently in Uganda, political offices seem like a do-or-die situation where one will do anything to secure a party ticket or office. This leaves one wondering where the love for the people stems from, given that candidates peg their manifestos on what they will do for the people. Is that why they put everything they have worked for, including their integrity, at stake? We have heard some political parties being accused of selling their tickets, while others are heavily run by political power brokers who determine who represents the party, disregarding capabilities. Meaning it is no longer about who is the most suitable representative of the people but who has the most money and who appeases the power brokers. Political party primaries have increasingly turned into a marketplace, a space where money and connections matter more than values and ideas. This could be one of the reasons some people choose to stay away from participating in politics by offering themselves for office or even coming out to vote. The candidates are forced to appease political power brokers who hold influence within parties or communities and act as gatekeepers to political positions. Some are party leaders, local council officials, or even wealthy businesspeople. These power brokers promise to "deliver votes" to candidates in exchange for money or favors. Some of these brokers even rig results at polling stations or manipulate party registers to favor their preferred candidates. During primaries, it is common to see candidates dishing out money, sugar, soap, T-shirts, and even alcohol to voters in exchange for votes. Many voters take the chance to take whatever they can because they believe once the candidate is voted in, they are going to eat and will never return. In some areas, people openly say, "We will eat their money and vote for them," while others take the bribes and actually vote for the highest bidder. This means the candidate who spends the most often ends up winning, not the one with the best vision or leadership skills. The common result is capable leaders are sidelined, and corrupt, unqualified individuals make it to the ballot paper. When such people get into power, they will concentrate on recovering the money they spent during the primary elections and campaigns. Then the very voters will be left crying about being neglected by the leaders they voted to represent them, and this goes on every election period. Political party primaries are more than just internal party processes. They set the tone for the general elections. Choosing a strong, capable, and clean candidate during political party primaries gives the voters a better choice of candidate in the main election. This is the reason why things cannot continue the way they are. When main players like the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the National Unity Platform (NUP), and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) poorly manage their internal primaries, the impact is felt nationally. If these parties cannot be trusted to conduct fair internal elections, how can we expect them to champion democracy at the national level? Political party primaries are an opportunity for parties to put their best foot forward by choosing candidates who will not only appease the small section of their party diehards but will appeal to other parties and the general population. Party primaries should give the country a chance to choose leaders who will drive the development and well-being of the people in the general election. With the way things are going, are political party primary elections strengthening the political system or causing internal party strife and weakening party structures by putting focus on individual candidates rather than party manifestos? The electoral commission and political parties should enforce strict laws on dealing with voter bribery, and party leaders should allow their members to choose their leaders freely without the interference of power brokers. Carolyne Muyama Uganda Media Centre
By Carolyne Muyama
