Former mayoral candidate Beatrice Mao has revealed that she spent more than Shs1.5 billion during her recent election campaign, highlighting the escalating cost of political participation in Uganda.
Speaking during an interview, Mao—who is also the wife of Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao—said the bulk of the money went into campaign materials, particularly branded merchandise.
“I printed 40,000 campaign T-shirts, each costing Shs 30,000,” Mao disclosed, noting that this alone amounted to approximately Shs 1.4 billion.
She further revealed that she incurred substantial expenses on outdoor advertising, including billboards placed across the city.
“A single billboard costs a minimum of Shs 3 million for three months. In total, I spent about Shs 150 million on billboards,” she said.
Mao added that she could not recall the total amount spent on posters and other promotional materials, saying the costs were extensive and spread across different campaign activities.
Despite the heavy financial investment, Mao said she was satisfied that her message reached the electorate.
“Even with all the money spent, I believe I managed to put my message out there. For me, it was worth it,” she said.
However, the massive campaign spending did not translate into electoral success. Mao finished fourth in the race with only 2,162 votes.
Her remarks echo longstanding concerns raised by Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, who has repeatedly warned about the rising cost of politics and its impact on free and fair competition.
Similarly, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has questioned the source of the billions of shillings reportedly spent by candidates during National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.
The issue was also recently underscored by State Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite, who announced that she would no longer seek elective office due to the high cost of campaigning. Anite previously revealed that she spent more than Shs 500 million on voters during an election but still lost, arguing that such funds would be better invested in business.
The growing financial burden of political campaigns continues to raise serious questions about accessibility, accountability, and the long-term sustainability of Uganda’s electoral process.
