
“Vurra County MP, Adriko Yovan, has been arrested and imprisoned at Arua Government Prison due to his failure to settle a debt of over UGX 55m, which he borrowed from Jubilee Finance Limited in 2021. His arrest was carried out in compliance with a court order, and he is now facing a 6-month prison term” (NTV Uganda, 14.10.2023).
Yovan MP isn’t new to the game of politics. No, his been in it long. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) MP for Vurra County who served as LCIII Chairman for 15 years and retired already in 2011. He won the NRM Primaries in 2020 ahead of incumbent and State Minister Gabriel Ajedra Aridru. Who had been MP for Arua County between 2011 – 2016 and would be re-elected in Vurra County 2016 – 2021. While he lost the NRM Primary, which meant his second term was the final one for now.
That just means that Yovan as a candidate had to spurge funds to beat and compete with Aridu and the other candidates in the Primaries. He also had to use funds to ensure victory in the General Elections in 2021. Which he won and then got the perks of office. The MP is vastly paid and has plenty of stipulated revenue sources, because of him being Parliament. That’s why it’s weird his defaulting on the loan he made.
A basic MP in the 11th Parliament without extra allowances or mileage allowances gets around 11 million shillings every month. That’s without additional funds or payments, which happens on a semi-regular basis. That is known and is expected in the role of MPs, as the state pays them off to vote in favour of legislation or other government business. Therefore, the MP should have had capacity do pay down on the loans and the interests too. Without defaulting or failing to honour his debt.
We know that the campaigning can be expensive and some MPs are spending like drunk sailors before the polls. There been records of MPs spending over 500 million shillings in only 51 days. Others being up to 850 million shillings on one campaign alone before the General Elections in 2021. Therefore, the wildcard bet of campaigning and trying to be (re)-Elected can be vicious beast.
We don’t know how much Yovan MP spent to become one. Because, you pay fees to enter in the Primaries and in the General. Plus you pay for staff, merchandize and electioneering in general. That comes with a cost and voter tourism/briberies aren’t cheap either. This is why the idea of running and such has to be able to either loan or get funds organically. To think that is for everyone, your thinking wrong. Everyone cannot get credit this high or have the promise of returns on investment. There are many who falls short and becomes prey to the cycle of elections.
The MP in question surely borrowed more than he could handle. This cannot be his only creditor, because he has funds to pay with and could have paid instalments at least. However, that seemingly haven’t happen and now the bills comes to haunt him. Well, we shouldn’t feel sorry for him. He decided to do this and run.
The MP has to answer for this one himself… and it’s his burden to carry. No one else is responsible for it. That’s the gist of it and he chose this way. Peace.









