• Uganda’s Minister of State for Privatization, Evelyn Anite, has called for a reduction in Members of Parliament’s salaries and allowances. 
  • Citing personal experiences and shocking election spending stories, Anite believes cutting financial incentives will restore integrity and attract leaders genuinely interested in public service, not personal wealth. 

Hon. Evelyn Anite the Minister of State for Privatization and Investment, has made a passionate appeal to the relevant authorities to reduce the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament. She argued that the current high pay is fueling greed, violence, and desperation in Ugandan politics.

Speaking candidly to the press, Anite said the perception that MPs join Parliament to get rich can only be changed by slashing the financial benefits that come with the job.

“The only way to change the perception that Members of Parliament go there to earn money is to reduce the amount they receive,” she stated.

The youthful minister further reflected on her own journey by admitting that she once took money for granted but has since come to appreciate its true value.

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Anite also criticized the widespread practice of excessive campaign spending and vote buying. She stated that this has become a dangerous norm that is driving people to extreme lengths to enter politics.

“It’s crazy! It’s insane! You actually use money you don’t have?” she revealed, recounting stories of MPs selling properties just to raise funds for elections.

Furthermore, Anite revealed that some sitting MPs had approached her, trying to sell their well-built houses to fund campaigns. She went ahead to narrate how she was shocked to hear of a candidate spending 600 million shillings on election day alone.

“So did you win?” she asked. “Yes, but with a small margin,” the candidate reportedly responded. “So what was that for?” Anite questioned.

According to the minister, such financial pressure has undoubtedly turned politics into a desperate battlefield. This is where people are willing to “kill” just to secure a seat in Parliament.

“Maybe this time, we remove the honey that is attracting everyone to go into Parliament. You see, the bees get attracted too,” she said symbolically referring to the money believed to be overflowing in the legislative arm government.

The former member of Parliament pointed out that some of the public outrage is triggered by reports of MPs receiving large sums—such as 40, 50, or even 100 million shillings.

That’s on top of their huge monthly salaries. She emphasized that if this financial incentive was removed, fewer people would abandon their professional jobs to enter politics for the wrong reasons.

“If you are going there to make money, then you can be sure they will fight. But if you are going to serve the people, it will be different,” she explained.

Anite, who was once among the youngest MPs in Uganda before losing her parliameary seat recalled how she panicked when she received her first paycheck.

“As a young person straight from university, I saw my first cheque and it was 88 million. I panicked. I thought, this is crazy. This is insane!” she said.

The social media savvy Minister’s message is clear as daylight- Uganda’s political space must be rehabilitated. And this can only be done by removing the financial bait which lures people into power for the wrong reasons.

“I have said repeatedly that I feel it is too much money. That’s why people fight, and that’s why they want to kill each other,” Anite warned.

Herminister’s comments have since sparked a public conversation on campaign financing, corruption, and the integrity of Uganda’s political leadership. This is one of the things that baffles Ugandans – why are MPs paid lots of taxpayers money yet there’s little to show for their accomplishments.