Africa-Press – Uganda. The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, has dismissed claims that political parties are entitled to receive government funds for campaign purposes during elections.
Addressing the ongoing debate sparked by opposition parties, Dr Baryomunsi clarified that the Political Parties and Organisations Act only provides for government grants to support the routine operations of political parties — not their campaign activities.
“A claim by political parties that government is supposed to give them money to carry out campaigns is not correct,” Baryomunsi said.
“The law provides for government to offer financial support for their day-to-day activities, not for election campaigns.”
He explained that the government allocates approximately Shs35 million annually to political parties, and this amount is shared using a formula based on the number of Members of Parliament each party has.
The funds are disbursed quarterly through the Electoral Commission.
“These funds are meant to help parties function, maintain offices, and carry out normal political activities. But when it comes to campaigns, political parties are expected to fund themselves,” he added.
The clarification comes after opposition parties accused the government of failing to provide campaign funding, claiming it was a constitutional obligation.
However, Baryomunsi said such assertions were misleading and could fuel public misunderstanding about the state’s role in political financing.
He noted that the principle behind public funding of parties was to support multiparty democracy and ensure institutional stability, not to bankroll political campaigns.
Baryomunsi urged political parties to use the existing legal provisions responsibly and not to expect the state to underwrite electoral competition.
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