By Kabuye Ronald
In what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched internal contests within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), all signs point to Al-Hajji Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba as the leading contender in the race for the national chairperson of the NRM Entrepreneurs League for the 2025–2030 term.
Credible sources from within the corridors of political power and the party’s grassroots structure confirm that Dr. Basajjabalaba is not only leading the pack, but also steadily consolidating support across key NRM blocs, making him the candidate to beat. If elected, he would automatically earn a place on the powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC), which plays a central role in shaping party direction and national policy.
The race is stacked with prominent figures including Amb. Ceaser Augustus Mulenga, the incumbent chairperson Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, Sanjay Tanna, Edson Ruyondo, Philip Kwijuka Kakuru, Mukesh Babubhai Shukla, and Gyaviira Ssemwanga. Despite the credentials and deep political and economic roots of each candidate, analysts agree that Basajjabalaba’s momentum appears unmatched.
Backed by Business Acumen and Grassroots Power
What gives Basajjabalaba the edge? Beyond his long-standing loyalty to the party, he brings to the table unmatched entrepreneurial credentials. Born on June 4, 1967, Dr. Basajjabalaba is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the HABA Group of Companies, a business empire valued at approximately $520 million. Since its inception in 1986, the HABA Group has expanded into diverse sectors including education, healthcare, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and more.
He is also credited with founding Kampala International University (KIU), now one of Africa’s largest private universities, with operations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, and study centers spread across Uganda. His ventures in tea plantations and factories in Butare and Buhweju, a sugar refinery, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing further underline his commitment to national development through enterprise.
But beyond business, it’s his deep connection with the grassroots, the common man, the business community, and the Ugandan diaspora that is fueling his campaign. Reports from multiple districts indicate overwhelming enthusiasm for his vision of a revitalized NRM Entrepreneurs League that is responsive to the challenges and aspirations of Uganda’s business class.
A Vision for Prosperity
Speaking at a recent mobilization event, Basajjabalaba stated:
“Our agenda is to make the Entrepreneurs League vibrant, to protect the entrepreneurs’ society and promote our party, the NRM by aiming at unity, prosperity, transformation, peace, and patriotism.”
This vision has resonated strongly, especially with small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, industrialists, and young entrepreneurs seeking to navigate Uganda’s evolving economic landscape with structured support from the ruling party.
Support From Across the Party
In internal consultations and party engagements, influential NRM figures, regional mobilizers, and league members have increasingly tilted toward Basajjabalaba’s candidature. His financial muscle, organizational capacity, and unifying message are seen as the formula to breathe new life into the Entrepreneurs League and strengthen the party’s hold within Uganda’s economic circles.
An NRM insider put it plainly:
“He’s not just a candidate. He is a movement. His track record speaks for itself, and the league needs someone who has lived and built the very dreams that entrepreneurs in this country aspire to achieve.”
The Road Ahead
While the race remains competitive with several high-profile candidates still campaigning aggressively, the tide continues to favor Al-Hajji Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba. As the NRM sets its sights on the next chapter of economic transformation and party strengthening, it appears that the entrepreneurs’ league may soon have a new face, one backed by both legacy and visionary leadership.
The final vote will ultimately rest with the delegates, but if current trends hold, the 2025–2030 term could very well begin with Hassan Basajjabalaba at the helm, ushering in a new era for the NRM Entrepreneurs League.
