OPINION- Ugandan politics have completely transformed to the point where a candidate must invest heavily in order to run for any political office, with no guarantee of success.
In most situations, a candidate seeking to become a member of parliament needs at least 2 billion shillings in order to win over voters.
This is increasingly difficult, and the country is losing valuable leaders who ought to serve as representatives of people in Parliament.
People continue to shoulder the responsibility of doing tasks that belong to local government, despite their significant investment and election to represent them in Parliament.
This has become a major problem, as people believe that an MP should provide them with all services, yet each leader should fulfill their position appropriately.
Local council leaders no longer fulfill their duties and at the end, Members of Parliament are ultimately held responsible.
According to the Constitution, the major role of MPs is to make laws for the country and to provide checks and balances to the other arms of government.
However, the nature of Ugandan politics dictates that they cannot simply sit back in Parliament.
In their constituencies, MPs are not judged by the number of bills they pass, but by how many jerry cans of beer they buy as well as how many health centers, roads and schools they build.
Most MPs are expected to spend money on doing programs in their constituencies that ideally are a responsibility of the government.
For instance, some MPs have supported construction of schools, churches, bought tractors to grade roads in their constituencies and some have started poverty alleviation programs like handing out goats, pigs and chicken to groups in their constituencies.
This work is not their responsibility. They do it from their official salaries.
The problem is that most of the funds supposed to cater for development in a given area do not reach their destinations and the role of MPs would be to simply monitor the work in their constituencies but because a lot of work is left undone, the population looks upon MPs to do some work.
The trouble, however, lies with the commercialization of politics and the total failure of legislators to explain their roles to the public. The way Ugandans view an MP is far different from what the rules say. If an MP does not contribute to weddings, construction of classrooms and churches, education of children of his campaign managers as well as giving out salt, sugar, beans and soap to residents, then he or she is not worth voting for.
However vocal an MP may be in Parliament, he or she will be judged by what development projects he or she introduces to his constituency.
So for an MP to remain popular on ground, he or she has to use his or her personal salary.
Some MPs are carrying out developmental projects, similar to those done by the Government and in reality, this is not their role.
The fact is, the major role of MPs is to make laws for the country and to provide checks and balances to the other arms of government.
It is not only wrong because there are statutory organs charged with development but it also compromises the role of MPs as watchdogs over government programs.
BY TUMUKUNDE BRIAN JOURNALIST KIGEZIPOST.CO.UG
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