The Common Man’s Party president and 2026 presidential aspirant, Mubarak Munyagwa, has suspended all his scheduled campaign activities in Bushenyi and Sheema districts to honour the late Hajjat Azida Nanteza Basajjabalaba, mother to businessman Hajj Hassan Basajjabalaba.
Munyagwa attended the vigil in Igara, Bushenyi, where mourners gathered to celebrate the life of the late, who was widely respected for her strong values and community influence.
He said both his Islamic faith and his longstanding relationship with the Basajjabalaba family made his presence necessary.
“I am a Muslim, and the late was Muslim as well as her family. That alone makes me attend this event. However, I am also friends with Hassan Basajjabalaba, so as a friend I have to stand with him. We shall see what happens after,” Munyagwa said.
He acknowledged the pressure of the campaign period, noting that he still has several districts to visit ahead of the elections, but insisted that compassion must take precedence.
“Yes, we have little time to the elections and many districts still to visit, but that can stand because humanity comes first,” he said.
The vigil drew several high-ranking mourners, including Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who served as chief mourner.
Also present were Internal Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire, Igara West MP Michael Mawanda, and a number of government officials who joined the Basajjabalaba family in paying their last respects.
Hajjat Azida Basajjabalaba is remembered as a principled and influential figure in her community, leaving behind a legacy deeply felt by many across the region.
