Muhoozi courts Muslim leaders in Masaka, promises to deliver them to Museveni

By our Reporter

Presidential hopeful, First Son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has pledged to support the Muslim community in Greater Masaka tackle the numerous challenges they face.

President Museveni has been making promises to religious leaders, some of which are as old as ten years.

On Saturday, his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba convened a meeting at the state lodge in Kizungu Masaka, where numerous Muslim leaders expressed worries over unfulfilled vows.

The gathering took on board the Muslims sects of Kibuli and old Kampala and was coordinated by State Minister for Micro finance, Haluna Kasolo. Instead of Voicing Muslim issues, they solely focused on personal needs.

 Isma Ssesimba, Masaka District spokesperson for the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) in Greater Masaka, informed Muhoozi that his father promised 30 cows and a vehicle, but they haven’t received them since 2,000. He revealed that the cows were to be donated to the leaders to improve their welfare and revenue.

The first Deputy Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Mahad Kakooza, told Muhoozi that he has been a long term ally of his father and is well known in his home region of Kalungu.

Kakooza wanted the government to shift money to religious institutions so that they can accomplish projects in communities, adding that some projects fail owing to workers’ lack of seriousness.

Gen Muhoozi pledged to distribute PLU books to clerics so that they spread the message to Greater Masaka youths who had joined the opposition and were protesting.

“The Country has a team of players but I am a substitute patiently waiting in case of anything,” Muhoozi said.

Muhoozi requested the clergy to consider him when it comes to voting for president.

Muslim leaders tightlipped

Journalists were locked out of the dinner.

All clerics and leaders who attended the meeting were tight lipped when contacted for this story.

The Friday Call understands that the leaders laid bare all their grievances, including the poor state of Muslim schools, mosques and other social infrastructure.

The clerics also asked Gen Muhoozi to fix an appointment for them to meet President Yoweri Museveni, a request Muhoozi agreed to.

In an interview, Frank Gashumba, one of the leaders of PLU told The Friday Call that the meeting was fruitful, bringing hope to Greater Masaka.

“85% of discussions centered on issues affecting Muslims in Greater Masaka. The disagreements between Muslim leaders at the national level didn’t come up,” said Frank Gashumba.

The dinner was attended by clerics and leaders attached to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the Office of the Supreme Mufti, a rare occurrence in a sub region where Muslims are sharply divided on political grounds.

Besides the Sheikhs, Gen Muhoozi also held separate meetings with leaders of the Catholic and Anglican Churches.

On Friday, the PLU leader drummed up support for his 2026 presidential ambitions in Masaka city, a stronghold for the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).