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By  Atwiine Allen   –   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES  CORRESPONDENT

KASESE,  Western  UGANDA  –   Meet Muhindo Jimmy.  The 32-year-old politician representing the Kasese district in Municipality says older politicians in the East African nation are intimidated by younger ones such as himself.  Mr. Muhindo says he started his political career from scratch and is currently  heading the youth at the municipality level and is heading toward the Parliament.  Mr. Muhindo says that part of the problem with older politicians is that they put their security and career first at the expense of the people. He says younger politicians really want make sure essential services are delivered to the people.

There are well-known stories of older members of Parliament failing to deliver such essential items as wheelchairs for disabled people in the districts. 

The government and non-government organisations normally send donations to each district.  He says that surprisingly that once the younger politicians receive the donations they make sure that they are given to the right people unlike with the old politicians.  And it is no secret that the older, entrenched politicians bribe voters, especially poor people in the villages to vote for them.  People are bribed to vote for candidates they don’t like, but because of poverty they readily accept money.  Entire villages suffer as a result.

Sometimes, all they have to do is give the poor a bar of soap or kilogram of sugar. In short, they buy their democracy cheap. 

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  VIDEO  INTERVIEW  –   Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy,  represents Kasese district in western Uganda Municipality speaks with East Africa Correspondent Atwiine Allen. 

“I Think what I wanted to offer was leadership, and  for this the youth invested in me for the second time.  I feel I have a firm leadership. And I really believe you can not offer leadership at this point that is not leading people to be able to live. Then you lead at those levels. When they see that you are having a large following, every time you come to compete,  they (older politicians) begin to be worried.”

-Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  VIDEO  INTERVIEW  –   Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy,  represents Kasese district in western Uganda Municipality speaks with East Africa Correspondent Atwiine Allen. 

“They are buying your votes but they won t do anything for you.”

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  VIDEO  INTERVIEW  –   Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy,  represents Kasese district in western Uganda Municipality speaks with East Africa Correspondent Atwiine Allen. 

“If he needs bribing, he will pull the hands out of his pockets. Because these people in most cases when it is time for elections, people will bring their bags here heavy with money. We don’t know where this money has come from… just comes and steals our democracy. So stay alert.”

-Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  VIDEO  INTERVIEW  –   Mr.  Muhindo  Jimmy,  represents Kasese district in western Uganda Municipality speaks with East Africa Correspondent Atwiine Allen.