Former Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament Yona Musinguzi has revealed that he spent approximately Shs2 billion campaigning for re-election but still lost his seat, amid questions over the distribution of money donated by President Yoweri Museveni to support ghetto youths.The revelation reportedly emerged during a telephone conversation with Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, who was pressing Musinguzi to account for at least Shs10 million that Museveni had reportedly donated to young people in Ntungamo Municipality.The money was reportedly channelled through Presidential Advisor Peace Rugambwa and Musinguzi for distribution to the intended beneficiaries.During the conversation, Barugahara reportedly directed the former legislator to refund the money within one week after concerns emerged that the intended beneficiaries had not received the funds.The minister insisted that the money must reach the youths for whom it was intended and called for arrangements to ensure its distribution in the presence of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the district Local Council V chairperson.Musinguzi reportedly acknowledged that the beneficiaries had not signed for the money, explaining that the transactions took place during the campaign period. He also reportedly agreed to refund the funds within the deadline set by the minister.The circumstances surrounding the alleged failure to distribute the donation have raised questions about accountability and the management of funds intended to support vulnerable groups.During the exchange, Musinguzi reportedly disclosed that he had spent about Shs2 billion on his parliamentary campaign but failed to retain his seat.The claimed expenditure highlights the substantial financial demands associated with parliamentary campaigns in Uganda, where candidates often spend money on mobilisation, transport, publicity and other campaign activities.However, the reported Shs2 billion expenditure has not been independently verified, and further details about how the campaign funds were spent have not been established.Musinguzi contested the Ntungamo Municipality parliamentary seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket but lost to independent candidate Gerald Karuhanga.According to the election figures cited in the report, Karuhanga secured 3,967 votes against Musinguzi’s 2,824, giving the independent candidate a winning margin of 1,143 votes.The reported exchange between Musinguzi and Barugahara has brought renewed attention to campaign financing and accountability for funds donated by political leaders for community support.It remains important to establish whether the money was subsequently refunded or distributed to the intended beneficiaries and to clarify the circumstances under which the funds were handled during the campaign period.The post It’s Painful: Hon. Yona Musinguzi Spent Shs2 Billion on Campaign but Lost Election appeared first on The Insider.