Veteran journalist Samson Kasumba has opened up about his decision to withdraw from voting and political participation, saying frustration with African politics pushed him to step away completely.
In a personal reflection marking 30 years since leaving Nkumba University in 1996, Kasumba revisited his early involvement in politics, including a brief role in campaigning during Uganda’s 1996 election.
“This June it will be exactly 30 years since I left my hostel at Nkumba University and set out to start working! That was in 1996. I had a small gig campaigning for Museveni I think I have that yellow letter as a campaign agent. I later got so frustrated with African politics I stopped voting that very year and I will never vote again or campaign for anyone again,” he said.
Kasumba says that experience marked a turning point in his civic engagement, leading him to abandon voting entirely. He adds that over the years, he has watched political systems evolve without delivering what many citizens had hoped for.
“These 30 years I have seen many things and made many mistakes! Seen many opportunities come and go and taken advantage of many!” he noted, reflecting on a long career that has included journalism and public commentary across the region.
He also pointed to what he sees as a recurring pattern among younger generations, saying many continue to place hope in promises he believes have historically failed to materialise.
“Now I see young people promise themselves things that I have seen and are known not to work and I realize how old I am,” he said.
Kasumba’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about voter apathy and political trust in several African countries, where turnout has in some cases declined due to disillusionment with leadership and governance systems.
While he did not call on others to follow his decision, his statement reflects a personal break from electoral participation shaped by decades of experience and observation in both politics and media.