Museveni Intervenes as Wealthy Rivals Withdraw, Paving Way for Basajjabala's Unopposed Win in NRM Entrepreneurs League Race
A heated race for the position of Chairperson of the NRM Entrepreneurs League, a seat on the party's powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC), took a dramatic turn as all opposing candidates withdrew and conceded to businessman Hassan Basajjabala, leaving him to be elected unopposed.
The wealthy contenders, who had initially expressed interest in the position, cited the exorbitant campaign costs required to compete effectively as the primary reason for their withdrawal. The prominent figures who stepped aside include King Ceaser Mulenga, Philip Kakuru (the Presidential Advisor on Finance), Sanjay Tana (an Indian-Ugandan investor based in Tororo), and others.
Initially, King Ceaser Mulenga, Philip Kakuru, and Sanjay Tana had allied to combine their financial resources and challenge Basajjabala. However, on the eve of the second round of elections, they publicly pulled out of the race, accusing Basajjabala of busing in and facilitating ineligible voters from neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania to participate in the internal party election.
The aggrieved candidates had already petitioned the NRM Electoral Commission, chaired by Dr. Tanga Odoi, and President Museveni himself, writing letters to complain about Basajjabala's tactics. They alleged he had transported outsiders to vote and had even hosted lavish pre-election dinners for delegates, actions they claimed compromised the integrity of the process.
This dispute forced the NRM Electoral Commission to halt the election and brief the party chairman, President Yoweri Museveni, on the impasse. Consequently, President Museveni made the decision to suspend the election for this particular position.
In a decisive move to resolve the conflict, President Museveni summoned both factions for a late-night meeting at his Nakasero residence. After hearing from both sides, including the grievances of Ceaser Mulenga's group and the defence from Hassan Basajjabala, the President directed that Basajjabala be declared the unopposed winner and elected as the Chairperson of the Entrepreneurs League.
Following the meeting at the President's home, the reconciled rivals addressed the press together, announcing the resolution to the public and signaling an end to their disagreement.
