A controversial mess has engulfed the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Entrepreneurs League National Executive committee elections after evidence emerged that controversial businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba is suspected of orchestrating a desperate election-day maneuver after egotistically handpicking and appointing candidates to the body, created to mobilize business leaders and private sector actors to support party initiatives.
Basajjabalaba who emerged as unopposed chairman for the 2025–2031 term following numerous allegations that he deployed “non-delegates” who lacked accreditation, and in some cases, only carried forged accreditation cards and these impostors were never on the official Entrepreneurs League register, flying delegates out of the country among others, is at it again after it emerged that he is not only appointing a section of his staff to the Entrepreneurs League National Executive committee , but also summoning over 500 delegates ahead of the Thursday polls.
‘’ We are aware that he handpicked his staff and relatives for positions including; Wagooli Dominic for National Vice Chairperson Eastern Uganda, Hajji Abdul Bisaso for Publicity, Bosco Mugambagye for Kampala and Prossy Kagabi for Western Uganda and a campaigning video containing the group has been circulating on social media platforms’’, a source said.
It is also alleged that the controversial politician , is coercing delegates to first vote his handpicked candidates before he gives them money , an allegation if true , is against the principals of the ruling NRM party.
Sources further alleged that Basajjabalaba , who was all over the news ahead of the recently concluded CEC polls for multiple serious accusations including : Bribing of District Administrators across the country ahead of the National delegates conference that facilitated accreditation of delegates in their designated hotel contrary to the NRM accreditation guidelines, fake delegates, forged accreditation cards, threatening text messages , even claims of delegate names being swapped out, with fake registers circulated is again orchestrating a scheme, summoning two delegates from each district to muddle the process and tilt the vote in favor of candidates for Entrepreneurs League National Executive committee elections.
We could not get Basajjabalaba by Press time to comment of these allegations.
It should be noted that the Entrepreneurs League has structures at district and national levels similar to those of NRM with appropriate modifications.
The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM directed that elections for the Youth and Entrepreneurs Leagues National Executives, along with flag bearers for Members of Parliament representing youth, will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
According to a circular signed by NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, the decision was taken at the 5th CEC’s first sitting at State House Entebbe on September 13.
In a shift from tradition, the polls will be decentralized and conducted in all 151 NRM districts across the country, with delegates gathering at district headquarters from 9:00 a.m. and voting by lining up behind candidates.
Delegates eligible to vote include all NRM Members of Parliament representing youth, members of the District Executive Committees of both the Youth and Entrepreneurs Leagues, municipal and city division youth executives, NRM district youth councillors, sub-county youth league chairpersons, and all members of the national executive committees of the two leagues.
This comes after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last month warned against election malpractice, corruption, and the use of money in politics, describing them as dangerous vices that threaten the country’s future and undermine accountability.
Addressing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at State House, Entebbe, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Museveni stated that rather than bribing voters during elections, leaders should work for the people and earn their support.
“Money is poison. When leaders are elected through bribery or cheating, they become unaccountable to the people. That is what caused wars in the past, and we cannot allow it to happen again,” he cautioned. Museveni added that both the party and government would not hesitate to prosecute perpetrators of electoral malpractice, stressing that leadership must come through persuasion and example, not coercion or bribery.
