By AGGREY BULUBA
There is an old saying: “What comes cheap will cost you dearly.” This rings painfully true in Uganda’s politics today, where voters trade their power for petty gifts, and leaders exploit poverty to secure office. A recently resurfaced video from the 2021 campaigns has reignited outrage, showing Hon. Goretti Kitutu, Woman MP for Manafwa and Minister for Karamoja, distributing matchboxes to win votes.
The matchbox—a humble item worth just 100 UGX—has become a symbol of the tragic reality of Uganda’s politics and the struggles of its people. In Manafwa, one of the country’s poorest districts, families often grapple with the harsh reality of choosing between basic necessities. To a struggling parent, a free matchbox might represent a rare opportunity to save money for a pencil or a meal. To a politician, however, it’s a cheap way to buy loyalty.
This exchange is not just demeaning—it is destructive. By accepting such bribes, voters unwittingly sacrifice their power to demand better schools, healthcare, roads, and essential services. As the adage goes, “He who sells his voice for a coin will cry for years.” These petty gifts solve nothing; instead, they deepen the cycle of poverty and erode the foundation of democracy.
The problem is widespread. In the recent Kisoro by-election, allegations surfaced of candidates distributing salt under the cover of darkness to sway voters. This pattern of bribery has turned elections into markets where votes are sold to the highest bidder. What should be a sacred democratic process has been reduced to a transaction, with politicians investing in bribes and later “recovering” their costs by neglecting the people’s needs.
This culture of bribery has also shut out honest and capable leaders who lack the financial resources to compete. For many, entering politics is no longer about serving the people but about personal enrichment. Uganda’s national motto, “For God and My Country,” has been cynically twisted into “For God and My Stomach.”
The true cost of this corruption becomes painfully evident after elections. Leaders who buy their way into office often feel no accountability to the people. Public services deteriorate—roads remain broken, hospitals run out of medicine, and schools fail to deliver quality education. Meanwhile, the people, left in poverty and disillusionment, continue to hope for change but remain trapped in a vicious cycle of exploitation.
As the 2026 elections approach, Ugandans must heed the wisdom: “The hand that takes a bribe loses its power to demand.” A matchbox today will not light the future; it will only burn it. Voters must rise above the lure of petty gifts and choose leaders committed to genuine service and progress.
To politicians, let this serve as a reminder: “A good name is better than riches.” Leadership is about empowering the people, not exploiting them. And to voters, “Do not trade your future for salt and matchboxes.” Choose wisely, for the power to build or break a nation lies in your vote.
Uganda cannot afford to continue down this perilous path. The time for change is now. Let us reject the politics of bribery and embrace a future built on integrity, service, and accountability. As the proverb says, “A tree is known by its fruits,” and the fruits of good leadership are the prosperity and dignity of the people.
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