A Parliamentary Leader with the Mindset of a Reformer
This week, Publicist East Africa is proud to spotlight Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, as our Captain of Industry, a bold and articulate leader who is proving that the corridors of Parliament can be as consequential for business as the boardrooms of banking and commerce.
While traditionally celebrated Captains of Industry have come from corporate and enterprise spheres, Tayebwa has emerged as a statesman-turned-economic advocate, playing a pivotal role in reshaping Uganda’s global business environment through diplomacy, legislation, and pragmatic leadership.
Unlocking Trade and Investment through Policy Action
Most recently, Tayebwa made headlines for leading Uganda’s high-level engagement with the European Union Parliament in Brussels, calling for the removal of Uganda from the EU’s anti-money laundering and terrorism financing grey list. Though Uganda had already been delisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2024, it remains on the EU’s list pending parliamentary resolution.
Tayebwa’s message was clear and firm: Uganda has done the work, now it deserves the recognition. His advocacy emphasized that Uganda’s continued grey listing undermines its credit ratings, restricts investor confidence, and increases borrowing costs for businesses and government alike.
By engaging directly with the EU Deputy President and other high-level figures, Tayebwa underscored a truth often overlooked in global diplomacy: regulatory listings are not just technical, they are economic roadblocks. Removing them is a matter of urgent national interest.
Driving Reform from Within: Seven Laws in Two Weeks
In a telling example of legislative agility, Tayebwa revealed that the Ugandan Parliament had amended seven laws within two weeks to align with global anti-money laundering standards. This rapid reform effort which included amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act exempted NGOs, churches, and charitable organizations from the list of accountable entities, in line with international recommendations.
It is rare to witness such legislative precision aligned with global investment expectations, and Tayebwa has proven himself not only as a speaker of Parliament but as a catalyst for economic readiness.
Protecting Uganda’s Farmers from Non-Tariff Barriers
Beyond financial reform, Tayebwa has turned his focus to non-tariff trade regulations that threaten to stifle Uganda’s export potential. He voiced strong concerns over the EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR), a well-intentioned but globally contentious law that risks penalizing Uganda’s smallholder farmers.
In his remarks, Tayebwa warned that the regulation could disproportionately harm the poorest communities in Africa, calling for equitable environmental laws that consider local development contexts. His advocacy for a balanced approach to sustainability and trade positions him as a champion of Uganda’s agrarian economy and rural livelihoods.
Why Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa is This Week’s PublicistEA Captains of Industry Honoree
Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa stands at the nexus of political leadership and economic transformation. He understands that for Uganda to be competitive in global markets, it must present itself not only as a country of opportunity but as a country of regulatory confidence, policy coherence, and international engagement.
He is this week’s Captains of Industry honoree not for holding high office, but for what he does with it. His actions reflect the Publicist East Africa ethos of impact-driven leadership leveraging institutional power to open doors for trade, attract investment, and protect Uganda’s most vulnerable from policy blind spots abroad.
His ability to frame Uganda’s challenges in global terms and push for practical, forward-looking solutions makes him a statesman for today, and a strategist for tomorrow.
Conclusion
As Uganda deepens its participation in the global economy, the role of political leaders like Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa will become even more critical. His blend of diplomatic finesse, reformist energy, and unapologetic advocacy for Uganda’s economic interests deserves recognition not just in Parliament, but across the public and private sectors.
In Tayebwa, we find a leader who knows that growth doesn’t just happen – it must be negotiated, legislated, and defended.
Stay tuned to Publicist East Africa for more profiles of the men and women building the future of Uganda and Africa.