NRM Spent UGX 3 Billion on Media Space During Campaigns - Dombo

In a campaign that was scientific—characterized by smaller crowds, broadcast media was a target for all political actors. Though it’s those with money who could buy space. And given that most radios in Uganda are owned by politicians of the ruling party, opposition parties reported being denied access to media space with no explanation.

Emmanuel Dombo, the party Director of Communication told Uganda Radio Network that supporters received support in form of transporting them to better medical facilities from upcountry and payment of bills.

The parties say the government usually allocates more money to the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM even where the law states that all parties eligible should get an equal share. In the last elections, the government released 15 billion Shillings which, according to the opposition was supposed to be shared equally between the parties represented in parliament. The NRM took more than half of it.

Last week, Christopher Matabi, a voter at Kiteme Church of Uganda Polling Station in Bamunanika county and resident of Nnalongo in Bamunanika Sub-County petitioned the High Court in Kampala, seeking the nullification of Ssekitooleko’s victory.

From misery and desperation of searching for missing loved ones to ululations of having them back, the community has learnt one lesson: keep your mouth shut on politics. That is the response Uganda Radio Network got from interviews conducted.

Amos Wambede 19, a senior five student at St. Balikuddembe SS Kisoga says that after securing victory in the recently concluded elections, where he contested as an independent candidate, his father Moses Madanda said he had now matured enough to take care of his needs.

Consumed by fear and trauma of what they went through, almost all of them were unwilling to freely tell people and journalists who flocked to their homes on Tuesday morning to stare at them and listen to their stories.