Awqaf department receives title of Bushenyi Muslim land

The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council’s (UMSC) Awqaf-Endowment department has taken custody of an original title of land belonging to the institution in Bushenyi district. The ceremonial handover of the land title took place in the offices of the Counsel Haj Muhammad Ali Aluma, the UMSC Secretary General at Old Kampala.

The event saw Mustafa Kariyo Bamwine, a retired Senior Finance Officer of Bushenyi District handing over the land title under the custody of UMSC. This land title had been safely maintained by Kariyo for a number of years.

The ceremony was an occasion to acknowledge and commend Kariyo’s unwavering trustworthiness and deep dedication to the Islamic faith. In particular, his prompt and affirmative response to a circular issued by the Awqaf department, urging Muslim leaders within the lower UMSC structures to collaborate with the general public in identifying UMSC properties classified as lost assets nationwide, was lauded.

Aluma encouraged other Muslims who may possess similar physical assets linked to UMSC or related documents to come forward and declare these holdings to the relevant Council organ.

“Such information concerning properties is very vital drawing development plans and thereafter actualization of designed projects will be achieved,” Aluma said.

The Awqaf department under the leadership of Nasser Ondongkara is compiling a record of recovered assets, which will subsequently be presented to the newly established UMSC Property and Endowment Trust that is slated to commence its responsibilities.

Kariyo disclosed that the acquired land was initially on a lease that was approaching its expiration date.

 “So I managed to apply for its extension by converting from mere to the perpetual ownership under Freehold land tenure,” Kariyo said.

Kariyo also offered valuable insight into his pivotal roles as the chairman of the Rwentuha Muslim Primary School Management Committee and subsequently as the chairman of the Rwentuha Mosque committee. These roles were integral in the development of both the school and the mosque, constructed on the land in question.

Also present were other UMSC officials including Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu, the Education Secretary, Sinan Abdu Nsenye, the Secretary for Finance and Planning; and Sheikh Abdul-Karim Abdallah Katamba, the Director of Halal and acting Regional Assistant to the Mufti, responsible for the Ankole-Kigezi Muslim Region.