King Ceasor Augustus Mulenga, a prominent businessman and Honorary Consul of Vietnam to Uganda, has pledged to inject Shs 600 million into established NRM SACCOs across the country as part of his campaign to become the next National Chairperson of the NRM Entrepreneurs League.
Speaking in an exclusive interview at his Nakasero office on Wednesday morning, Mulenga revealed a plan to seed SACCOs in all six NRM regions — Central, Western, Eastern, Northern, Karamoja, and Kampala — with Shs 100 million each. The funds are intended to boost capital access for SMEs and stimulate innovation at the grassroots level.
“If I give you Shs 100 million today and it is well managed, in one year it could turn into Shs 1 billion,” Mulenga, proprietor of King Ceasor University, stated.
“The goal is to make affordable capital accessible, especially to youth and women, and grow our local economies from the ground up.”
Mulenga’s proposal includes offering credit at just 1% interest per month (12% per annum), and turning each regional SACCO into a Shs 1 billion capital base within a year. He stressed the importance of local value addition, particularly in the agricultural sector, where many Ugandan farmers earn little due to the export of raw produce.
“Ugandans must complete the job — add value here, create jobs, and retain profits locally instead of exporting wealth,” he said.
Widely viewed as a frontrunner among the eight candidates in the race, Mulenga is advocating for the formal institutionalization of the Entrepreneurs League within the NRM party structures — from LC1 to Parliament — akin to the existing youth, women, elders, disabled, and veterans leagues.
He said legal experts would be consulted to draft constitutional reforms to secure entrepreneurs a voice in key party and government organs.
Mulenga also plans to launch a quarterly entrepreneurship magazine to educate members about investment incentives, taxation, parliamentary legislation, and licensing procedures with the Uganda Investment Authority. The publication will spotlight global best practices and opportunities for Ugandan entrepreneurs.
As Vietnam’s Honorary Consul, Mulenga noted his intention to facilitate delegations of Ugandan coffee sector players to Vietnam, now a global leader in Arabica coffee production and value addition. He believes such exchanges will bolster innovation and capital aggregation in Uganda’s coffee value chain.
Addressing financial barriers faced by entrepreneurs, he proposed “standard offer” agreements with partner financial institutions. These would guarantee:
- Loan processing within three months,
- Up to 60% valuation-based lending on mortgage collateral,
- Repayment terms of up to five years.
Mulenga appealed to the five delegates in each district who are eligible to vote, asking for their support in the ongoing NRM internal elections. He emphasized that SACCO empowerment, legal reform, and enterprise advocacy are vital interventions that align with the party’s vision for socio-economic transformation.
“This is not just about winning a seat. It’s about building lasting institutions that empower our people,” he said.
CEC Elections & Delegates Conference
As the ruling party prepares for the 2026 general elections, the NRM Electoral Commission has begun grassroots elections, including those for the Entrepreneurs League, in line with the roadmap released in April 2025.
The highlight will be the Delegates Conference set for August 22–25, 2025, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, where over 25,000 delegates will elect new Central Executive Committee (CEC) leaders — including the National Chairperson, two Vice Chairpersons (one female), and six regional vice chairpersons.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is also expected to be officially endorsed at the event as the NRM’s presidential flag bearer for the upcoming January 2026 general elections.
