WE TOLD YOU: Pressure mounts on Tayebwa as Basajjabalaba’s son Declares bid for Deputy Speaker

As earlier reported by this investigative website, the simmering political tension between city tycoon and NRM Central Executive Committee member Hassan Basajjabalaba and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has taken a decisive turn after Basajjabalaba’s son, Iddi Basajjabalaba, formally declared his ambition to contest for the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament for the 2026–2031 term.

Iddi, who was elected Member of Parliament for Bushenyi–Ishaka Municipality on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket in the January 15, 2026 general elections, made the declaration through a statement shared on X on Tuesday.

In his message, he thanked voters for the trust and mandate they gave him and said he was ready to serve the country with humility, honesty and commitment. He pledged principled leadership rooted in inclusivity, constitutionalism and the pursuit of the aspirations of Ugandans.

His announcement brings into the open a political cold war that began during the chaotic NRM Entrepreneurs League elections held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

The contest, which pitted Hassan Basajjabalaba against businessman King Ceasor Mulenga, was annulled amid allegations of irregularities, forcing President Yoweri Museveni to intervene. Following a State House meeting, Mulenga stepped down and Basajjabalaba was unanimously endorsed to take the CEC seat in the name of party unity.

However, the episode exposed deep divisions within the ruling party, particularly in Western Uganda. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, a longtime ally of Mulenga, openly backed him during the contest, a move that angered many in Greater Igara, the sub-region both Tayebwa and Basajjabalaba hail from. The decision was interpreted by some as a betrayal of regional solidarity and marked the beginning of a strained relationship between the two influential figures.

Within NRM circles, Iddi Basajjabalaba’s bid is widely viewed as a calculated political counter-move by his father, a businessman known for his financial muscle and organisational reach. With Iddi already holding the NRM flag and a parliamentary seat in a party stronghold, his entry into the Deputy Speaker race is seen as a direct challenge to Tayebwa’s grip on power.

Read our story published last year about the growing rift.

Insiders say early mobilisation has already begun, targeting MPs whose support will be crucial in determining the next Deputy Speaker. In NRM’s internal politics, money, influence and alliances often play a decisive role, and Basajjabalaba’s control of the Entrepreneurs League is believed to give him an advantage in rallying support.

For Tayebwa, one of President Museveni’s trusted young leaders, the declaration signals that his path to a second term will not be smooth. For the ruling party, it sets the stage for a potentially bruising internal contest that could reshape parliamentary leadership. What started as a disputed party election has now evolved into an open power struggle, with Iddi Basajjabalaba’s announcement formally bringing the rivalry into the national political spotlight.