President Yoweri Museveni has successfully mediated a consensus among rival candidates contesting for the chairmanship of the party’s Entrepreneurs League on the Central Executive Committee (CEC).
The mediation resulted in all the major contenders stepping down in favor of the incumbent, Al Hajj Hassan Basajjabalaba, who will now serve for the next five years.
The meeting held on August 30, 2025 at the State Lodge in Nakasero, was initiated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who facilitated dialogue amid escalating tensions following allegations of electoral irregularities on the party National Delegates Conference on August 27, 2025.
President Museveni, who also serves as NRM’s national chairman, announced the outcome via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, confirming that the aspirants had “agreed to unconditionally endorse Basajjabalaba” as unopposed. He applauded the spirit of compromise displayed by the other aspirants, emphasizing that leadership should prioritize outcomes over positions.
The decision followed days of uproar, during which a faction of aspirants, including King Ceasor Mulenga, Sanjay Tanna, Phillip Kakuru, and Shukla Mukesh, had withdrawn from the election process, citing serious procedural breaches.
These included accusations of manipulated delegate registers, unauthorized participants, and alleged vote-rigging preparations by Basajjabalaba’s camp. The discontent culminated in a formal petition to senior NRM officials, including the Secretary General and the party’s Electoral Commission chair.
In response to the crisis, President Museveni had earlier ordered the suspension of the Entrepreneurs League elections, alongside other internal polls such as those for the Youth League, until further notice.
This intervention paved the way for Saturday’s conciliatory talks for the Entreprenuer League.
A joint communiqué signed by the three candidates formalized the agreement to back Basajjabalaba.
They described the endorsement as an act of unity and loyalty to the party.
For his part, Basajjabalaba expressed gratitude to both his former rivals and the party leadership, pledging to lead inclusively and focus on advancing the goals of the Entrepreneurs League.
He now joins a select group of senior NRM leaders who secured their positions unopposed during the party’s ongoing internal elections. These include President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who retained his roles as national chairman and presidential flag bearer; Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo, who remains first national vice chairperson; Tom Butime, reaffirmed as chairperson of the Historical League; and Peninah Busingye, who continues to lead the Elderly League.
Their uncontested retention stands in contrast to several high-profile defeats that marked the elections.
Among the notable casualties were former First Deputy National Chairperson Rebecca Kadaga, unseated by Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among; Minister for ICT Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, replaced by Eng. Jonard Asiimwe as Vice Chairperson for the Western Region; and Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, who lost the Veterans League chairmanship to Lt. Moses Mushabe.
Other key figures who failed to retain their positions include Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, replaced by Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune as Vice Chairperson for the Central Region, and Lydia Wanyoto, who was defeated by Aldrine Kobusingye in the race for Chairperson of the Women’s League.
