The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has come under scrutiny over issues of representation following the suspension of elections for the Entrepreneurs League chairperson, a position that feeds into the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
President Yoweri Museveni halted the polls after reports of voter bribery and delegate irregularities, paving the way for businessman Al Hajj Hassan Basajjabalaba to assume the seat unopposed.
The move effectively sidelined Tororo-based entrepreneur and former MP Sanjay Tanna, whose candidacy had been viewed as an opportunity to rebalance regional representation and strengthen the political visibility of Uganda’s Asian community.
Supporters argue that Tanna’s presence on the CEC would have elevated voices from Eastern Uganda, a region often cited as politically marginalized compared to Western Uganda, where most of the party’s senior leadership originates.
Analysts say his inclusion could have broadened the committee’s outlook, helping address disparities in infrastructure, agriculture, and wealth creation across the country.
Tanna also represented a potential breakthrough for Uganda’s Asian community, which plays an outsized role in the economy but remains politically underrepresented. Although they make up less than 1% of the population, Asians are estimated to contribute over 60% of tax revenues, with major investments in manufacturing, agro-processing, real estate, banking, and trade.
Having built businesses ranging from Hudor Mineral Water to regional media houses like EAST FM Tororo and Teso Broadcasting, Tanna was seen as well-placed to champion policies that protect and expand minority-led enterprises, ensuring their growth benefits the wider Ugandan economy.
During his campaign, Tanna unveiled a 10-point plan aimed at revitalizing the Entrepreneurs League through cross-regional business networks, youth and women empowerment, and skills-sharing initiatives to fight unemployment. His philanthropic record in Tororo and Teso, where he has supported hospitals and schools, further reinforced his appeal as a development-focused leader.
While Basajjabalaba’s unopposed entry avoided an internal clash, political commentators warn that overlooking Tanna could cost the NRM an opportunity to signal inclusivity and economic trust.
His exclusion, they argue, risks entrenching perceptions of regional imbalance and political disconnect at a time when the party is gearing up for the 2026 elections.
