SITTING ON A TABLE AND AGREEING ON ONE OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIGHT BE THE SOLUTION

THE WAY TO GO IS TO GET ONE JOINT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND HAVE THE OPPOSITION SUPPORT HIM.  SHORT OF THAT, WITH THE ROLE MONEY PLAYS IN UGANDA'S POLITICS, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO DISLODGE THE MAN WHO HAS UNLIMITED RESOURCES AT HIS DISPOSAL.

The NRM presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni has spent Shs27 billion on his 2016 campaigns in two months, 12 times more than his two closest challengers combined, according to results of a preliminary study about campaign financing released.

In the 16 districts reviewed, Mr Museveni spent Shs4.8b in November and Shs22.2b in December, 2015 representing 91.6 per cent of the 29.6b spent by all the candidates in total.

Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi, who followed, in terms of spending, spent a total of Shs1.3b or 4.6 per cent in the same period. Dr Kizza Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate spent a total of Shs976m or 3.3 per cent. The other candidates, Dr Abed Bwanika, Prof Venansius Baryamureeba, Ms Maureen Kyalya, Maj Gen Benon Biraro and Mr Joseph Mabirizi spent less than 1 per cent of the Shs29.6b combined. Prof Baryamureeba spent Shs95,732,000 while Abed Bwanika used Shs34,311,000 and Joseph Mabirizi Shs26,486,000. Maureen Kyalya used Shs5,692,500.