His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has cautioned Ugandans about the dangers of excessive spending in politics, linking it to corruption, weak leadership, and the destruction of national development, in his Christmas and New Year 2026 message.
“The politics and the selection of leaders we see now are filled with excessive spending, and we wonder: where does such a large amount of money come from?” Kabaka Mutebi said, warning that elections dominated by wealth often result in leaders who prioritize repaying campaign expenses over serving the people.
“Elections conducted in this manner bring into leadership positions people without the capability, who first prioritize repaying the money they spent to be elected. This is the source of corruption and the destruction of our country’s development. Therefore, we urge you to vote with great care.”
The Kabaka expressed concern over growing electoral violence, citing incidents where candidates and citizens have been beaten, blocked from political events, or subjected to other human rights violations.
“Many of our people have been subjected to harm, including being beaten, preventing candidates from reaching scheduled venues to address voters, and other acts that break the law and violate human rights,” he said.
He called on the national Electoral Commission to go beyond condemnation and ensure that all candidates can reach voters without harassment.
“We ask our colleagues on the national Electoral Commission not only to condemn these matters but also to assist every candidate, without bias, to deliver their message to the voters without being blocked or tortured in any way. We condemn these acts because they do not reflect civility or the progress of the country.”
Kabaka Mutebi also highlighted ongoing challenges with food security, noting that the dry spells in November and December have severely affected maize and beans production.
He urged households to prioritize food storage and appealed to government to provide support through irrigation equipment and tax reductions on irrigation machinery.
“Rain is still scarce in most parts of the country, yet in the months of November (Museenene) and December (Ntenvu), we would have expected plenty of rain everywhere. This means that food crops, especially maize and beans, have been greatly affected by the dry spell,” he said.
He also raised alarms over rising insecurity, including missing children, ritual killings, and attacks by machete-wielding gangs.
“We ask you to be vigilant and protect yourselves and our children, especially during this festive season. We also call upon the security forces to increase their efforts in protecting our people and their property,” the Kabaka said.
Despite the challenges, Kabaka Mutebi expressed gratitude to his subjects for their prayers and support, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a peaceful, healthy New Year.
“We thank God who has enabled us to reach the Christmas of our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 2025… We wish you a Merry Christmas full of joy and a New Year filled with peace and good health,” he said.