Politics 4 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Taxpayers Burdened by VIP Perks and Handouts
Allan Tacca critiques Uganda's elite for receiving lavish public funds for farming ventures while ordinary citizens struggle, questioning if taxpayers will fund these through lotteries. He highlights a pattern of patronage turning the state into a 'vampire' that drains resources from the masses. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/columnists/allan-tacca/vip-s-for-whom-taxpayers-toil-5412948
Four decades ago, Uganda’s leaders traveled in simple pickups and sedans amid hopes of honest, frugal governance after the Bush War. Instead, the current regime has evolved into what columnist Allan Tacca calls a ‘vampire State,’ with the Office of the President doling out public money without clear rationale.
Bigwigs dismissed from high posts often land questionable roles retaining their hefty salaries and perks. Recent examples include a retired senior judge promised millions for farming, despite already receiving substantial monthly retirement benefits, followed by a former police chief with a similar deal.
Tacca questions if these are VIP twists on the Parish Development Model—half-loans, half-patronage, or outright gifts? He ponders whether citizens will be coerced into special lotteries to foot the bill, while street vendors get eviction orders.
Farming appears as the go-to retirement hobby for elites, often subsidized by state resources even while in office. This skews aid toward the over-privileged, damaging Uganda’s image as a patronage-driven state.
The piece is sourced from Daily Monitor (Uganda).