Museveni Slams Vote-Buying, Urges Voters to Reject Bribery

President Museveni has strongly condemned the rise of vote-buying disguised as fundraising and urged the voters to reject such handouts.

He was speaking during the 2025/26 Budget Reading at Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala.

“Not petty money from MPs for fundraising or bribes. The voters need to know that these practices of bribes and fundraising are overthrowing the voters’ power to elect leaders that will work with the Central Government to solve their problems,” he said.

He urged citizens to reject such handouts: “Do not accept petty money from politicians and throw away your power to elect a leader that can kwemerera (supervise) the money sent to you through the Parish, fight corruption, etc… Once we solve the political corruption that has paralyzed the populist politicians, it will be easy to fight the corruption of the Public Servants.”

Calling on Ugandans to become whistleblowers, Museveni said: “It is because we have a reliable source for kurega (whistleblowing). These are the people, the victims of the corruption.”

He outlined the key agents of Uganda’s transformation: “The big changes that are happening in Uganda, are by the following actors: the NRA/UPDF that liberated the country and has been ensuring peace ever since; the wealth creators in the four sectors, the Government scientists that make innovations, and the responsible members of the political class that have been supporting the NRM programs. It is, therefore, not fair for some actors to spoil these great successes.”

He addressed criticism of presidential gifts: “Some people say that they give bribes because Museveni is always giving the khaki envelope to members of the population. Do not draw water and mud; do not mix up issues. The brown envelopes I give are part of the ancient traditions here. It is called okurongoora… The President is the modern ‘King’. You are not ‘Kings’. I have a budget for that. I do not sell my cows to get money to kurongoora singers.”

Decrying the culture of political fundraising, Museveni said, “Fundraising was and is premature. The healthy fundraising is okusonda, whereby you make small equal contributions, but by many contributors.”

He shared a personal story to emphasise this point: “In the 1950s, Mzee Kaguta sometimes would participate in kusondera (contribute) for enjogga (a potful) of rwaagwa (banana alcohol). At that time, enjogga was 5 shillings. Five people would contribute Shs 1 each.”

Criticising the false display of wealth among politicians, Museveni said: “With the rampant fundraising, the MP carries the whole burden. It is really extortion, but it was instigated by the MPs who created the impression that they had the type of money which they did not have.”

He challenged elders and religious leaders to demand accountability: “Even the church leaders and other elders should ask those young mistake makers: ‘Naye mwana wange, esente zino zonna, ozigyawa?’ That is what a responsible parent should ask omwana (son or daughter) or omuzukulu (grandchild) if he/she sees him or her throwing around money.”

The President concluded with a stern moral reminder: “The responsible parents do not accept stolen gifts from their children.”