“I Am Leaving Parliament without My Husband but With Huge Loans and Shame” (FAKE LOVE AND ROMANCE IN PARLIAMENT)

Yesterday at the NRM Secretariat, I had a highly emotional interview with a female member of parliament after she picked up her nomination forms. She authorized me to publish this information without mentioning her names. What she shared was heartbreaking and eye-opening, revealing the true cost of politics for many women.

She began by saying, I am leaving parliament without my husband but with huge loans and shame. She described a once happy marriage with her husband and children, which was torn apart after she joined parliament in 2016. From 2017 onwards, her family was always at war; their home became a house of fire. She explained she had no time for her husband and kids, as her life in parliament was filled with meetings, travels, and encounters with men from all walks of government.

She admitted, Truth is, I was in a different life in parliament—meeting all types of men in the house sessions and traveling abroad with men. She recounted spending weeks abroad on parliamentary assignments with male colleagues, and how these trips often led to inappropriate relationships. Even if you are a strong woman, you will end up in an affair with a fellow member of parliament, minister, senior government officials, security officials, etc. This is the reality married female members of parliament will never talk of, but it’s what they go through.

She described the dangerous dynamics of these trips: You go abroad for two weeks with male legislators and government officials, sleep in the same hotel, share meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—together with all men on the delegation interested in having you. Some will offer financial support, promising opportunities, connections in government, ministerial appointments, projects, trips—you name it.” She revealed that many women do not survive these manipulative advances, and those who do often suffer consequences—emotional, relational, and health-wise. “Many are HIV Positive, she added gravely.

She lamented how her focus shifted from her family to these relationships: “I lost interest in my husband and focused more on men I met in parliament and other government officials. I didn’t realize these men were just users. My husband had spent a lot to support my political ambitions. We sold family properties, and he lost a well-paying job at an international NGO because he was involved in my politics. Later, he started a family business, but by then, the damage was done.

Her voice trembled as she described how her marriage unraveled: “I saw most female MPs falling in love with fellow MPs, ministers, and senior government officials, and I resisted at first. But I ended up doing the same throughout. My husband became useless and unwanted as I became powerful, connected, and involved with parliamentarians and government officials. She pointed out that, sadly, many of these men are HIV Positive, often without regard for the health risks involved.

Now, after two terms in parliament, she finds herself in pain and anguish. “My family is gone, I’m left with huge loans, and in total isolation. She explained how her monthly salary of 5 million shillings is mostly taken by money lenders, making it difficult to maintain her constituency. “The expenses are too high; men would try to help me, but they are no longer there.

Her regret was palpable: “I regret the day I joined politics. I lost my good, caring man and my marriage. Now, at 49 years old, I am alone.” Her former husband has suffered for ten years, with some men in government investing heavily to incapacitate him financially or even attempt to kill him. She revealed she became influential in her church but felt she had betrayed her family and her values.

She reflected deeply: “If I hadn’t joined politics, I and my husband would be happy, successful, and with a good family. Now, I am alone, and the constituency is too heavy for me. It’s costly, and I feel ashamed of myself. She admitted praying daily for forgiveness as she returns to her constituency without her husband’s support. “In 2021, he sold our land to support my politics. I am sorry I betrayed him.

Her story is a cautionary tale for women in politics: “When you join politics, you become too selfish and ambitious, thinking only of big things and positions. Once you have big ambitions, you end up sleeping with men who can help you get there. Many women have ended up in this situation. When a female MP meets fellow legislators and senior officials, she will never have respect again for her husband.

She concluded with a heart-wrenching reflection: “In the end, I am left with nothing but regret and sorrow. I regret the decisions I made and the pain I caused my family. I mourn the loss of my marriage and the love of my life. I can only hope my story serves as a lesson to others – avoid the mistakes I made. My children will never be politicians. Every politician is a liar and dishonest. All they know is to use and dump. They all act powerful and connected.

Her story reveals the true cost of political ambition, an emotional toll that often leaves women and their families shattered. It underscores the importance of staying true to one’s values and the devastating consequences of neglecting family in pursuit of power.

The National Bureau of Economic Research defines a recession as a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy lasting more than a few months. A recession is normally visible in the real gross domestic product (GDP), real income, employment, industrial production and wholesale-retail sales.

A recession is also said to be when businesses cease to expand, the GDP diminishes for two consecutive quarters, the rate of unemployment rises and housing prices decline.

Currently, though a recession has not yet been officially declared, it is evident that the entire world is headed for one. This is as a result of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic that has spread throughout the whole world is affecting several economies severely compared to others. The pandemic which took the whole world by surprise has crippled almost every industry in every country ranging the stock exchange markets, Aviation Industry as well as the oil industry which has recorded its lowest oil prices since the early 1900s.

This is due to the lockdown measures that have been issued by the majority of the countries in the effort to curb the spread of the virus. The negative impacts of this are more in a short time but for a country like Uganda, the positive impacts lay ahead in the long run. Due to this pandemic, businesses have been forced to close as a result of the national lockdowns.

Economically anticipating into the future, business, firms and industrial lockdowns are leading to low levels of production as employees have been forced to stay home. The decline in levels of production will consequently lead to low levels of revenues for the businesses. Low revenues will force employers to lay off some workers as they might not be able to fully facilitate them and lower wages for those that stay in order to reduce the cost they incur. This was seen during the great recession of 2009 which mainly affected the financial sector and caused many people to lose their jobs and this led to very high levels of unemployment, banks saw large-scale losses and falls in profit and it hit the housing sector hardest.

With high levels of unemployment, low levels of income are bound to be realized by nations and this will not only increase poverty but also widen the income inequality gap. With the high levels of unemployment, low rates of production and output, low incomes for individuals and a decline in retail sales, Nations are going to realize a drop in the Gross Domestic Product which is the major indicator of a recession.

Uganda Revenue Authority had a target of collecting 21 trillion in the 2019/2020 financial year. However, the COVID-19 measures frustrated the collections after raising only 15 trillion leaving a balance of 6 trillion. The recession will also lead to an increase in government borrowing as a result of the fall in the tax revenue in order to cover up the deficit accumulated as a result of the pandemic.

This is because firms make less profit, therefore the government will receive lower corporation tax, workers will receive lower incomes, therefore the government will receive lower income tax, lower house prices and fewer housing transactions lead to lower stamp duty revenue and lower expenditure will lead to lower VAT payments. It can be viewed, all the major indicators of a recession move in a cycle and that is why a recession is part of the business cycle.

However, from the view of several economists, the COVID-19 recession is mainly bound to affect low-income earners in the leisure and tourism sector more than the rich people in other sectors. Consequently, a recession is not all bad and that is why it is part of the business cycle. One way or another, it is bound to be realized by economies and it has some positive implications that come out of it such as an increasing inefficiency.

Therefore, some companies industries especially those who offer services online and employees who are able to work from home are however bound to benefit from this recession. Sail Global Corporation, a private entity online offering Business, Advisory, Insurance and Innovation services is therefore bound to benefit from this recession and this is how.

1.With the pandemic that is not just going to be gone at once, people are bound to be cautious of walking into places and companies to conduct business. Therefore, if one can access the services they need online, that will greatly simplify their lives and they will not have to expose themselves in order to acquire a service. Take for instance a company that needs advisory services on a certain contract they are engaging in. They can simply log onto the Sail Access website and set in an application for the service that they require and Sail Global Corporation will respond respectively. This will encourage the continuity of businesses and it will enable people to keep earning regardless of the current world state.

2.During the recession, Legal services are highly marketable for various reasons such as people will need legal advisory on how to manage their assets, individuals selling the property will too need legal contracts drawn out for them, employees that have been illegally laid off work without benefits will too need legal services and so many others. Sail Global Corporation, therefore, has an opportunity and window to exploit the market by offering its legal services.

3.With the technology and Innovation department at Sail Global Corporation, during the COVID-19 recession, innovations and developments for various companies can still be conducted and carried out as these services can be remotely offered. Therefore, potential clients can put in their service applications through Sail Access and the services they require will be diligently delivered to them.

It can therefore be seen that midst of this crisis, Sail Global Corporation can strive as a business and actually benefit from the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.