Businessman and tech entrepreneur Kwame Rugunda has pledged sweeping reforms and a bold new direction for the NRM Entrepreneurs League following his nomination for the position of National General Secretary.
Rugunda, who is the son of former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, was officially nominated at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters on Wednesday.
In his address after nomination, Rugunda outlined a clear three-point agenda focused on “organizing, energizing, and revolutionizing” the league, which he described as having “enormous untapped potential.”
He noted that despite existing for over two decades, the Entrepreneurs League has yet to fully deliver on its mandate, and he vowed to change that by strengthening its internal structures. His immediate priority, he said, would be the creation of a functional national register and systems to boost the league’s efficiency and vibrancy.
“The league should claim the position it rightfully holds in our nation,” Rugunda declared. “There is considerable work ahead—not only in organizing but also in energizing and revolutionizing.”
He also pledged to amplify the voice of entrepreneurs in Uganda’s national policymaking platforms, noting that entrepreneurs deserve formal representation in governance structures—similar to groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who already have seats in Parliament and local governments.
“We often say the private sector is the engine of the economy—but I believe entrepreneurs are the true drivers of that engine,” Rugunda said. “It is time for entrepreneurs to be at the decision-making table.”
He further committed to positioning the league as a key driver of economic growth, aligned with the government’s target of growing Uganda’s economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion over the next 15 years.
Rugunda emphasized that the NRM Entrepreneurs League must function both as a political mobilization tool and as an economic development arm of the ruling party.
“To safeguard the peace and stability that the NRM government has secured over the past decades, we must prioritize economic expansion,” he said. “This growth must be inclusive—ensuring that no one is left behind.”
