Museveni greenlights special SACCOs for Muslim leaders

By Abdu Wahid Kakande

President Yoweri Museveni has given greenlight to Muslim leaders in every district to establish their own Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) where the government can inject money for them.

The President made the pronouncement during a thanksgiving prayer (Shukr) for the Muslim leaders he sponsored for pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The Shukr was hosted at State House in Entebbe on Saturday.

This year alone, President Museveni sponsored one hundred Muslims for pilgrimage to Makkah, spending over Shs 2.1b on them.

“For the sheikhs in a district, they can get their own SACCO and we put money into them. You will tell us where to put it,” Museveni said.

This was after the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje revealed that Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) intends to register over 830 SACCOs for the benefit of Imams countrywide.

However, the President rejected the request to have a special poverty alleviation program for the Muslim community, instead urging Muslims to embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM) saying it is not riddled with interest (Ribah).

“We have several initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga to fight poverty. You said you fear ribah, but we removed it. This is free money from the government. The sh60,000 you pay annually of the sh1m is a top-up and not ribah and this is because of inflation.”

“We cannot come up with a special program for Muslims otherwise even the Catholics, and the traditional healers will also demand for it. I urge you to join PDM that joins you together in your parishes,” the President said.

The President congratulated the pilgrims for the successful pilgrimage and pledged to continue with the program.

“I am going to support this program so that the poor can also fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam. However, as Muslim leaders, you have to put in place a mechanism for the selection of the beneficiaries because you may distort this program, we know you,” Museveni cautioned.

He commended sheikh Muhammad Kasawuli for coming up with the idea.

Responding to the request by Sheikh Kasawuli to increase the number from 100 to about 150 every year, the President said the problem is not about numbers but selecting the intended beneficiaries.

Museveni to talk to Prince Nakibinge

After observing the absence of Muslim leaders from the Office of the Supreme Mufti at Kibuli, the President said he is going to look for Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, the titular head of the Muslim community in the country so that they are not left behind.

“I am going to look for Prince Nakibinge and ask them what they are on. I am going to talk to him because it is good to be united” Museveni said.

During the event, Muslims endorsed President Museveni’s re-election in the forthcoming 2026 general elections in appreciation for his unwavering support to their faith.

Mubaje, using a Luganda proverb of gwewalabyeko yabera omwana (You only count a child after seeing them), said, “I pray for you and wish success in the forthcoming elections.”

Mubaje thanked the President for the visionary leadership ever since he came into power in 1986.

“I thank you for all the programs you have brought for us. Indeed, the 40 years you have been in power have not been for nothing because for some of us who have been here for some time, we can see that there is a great change and the need for continuity,” Mubaje said.

Mubaje called upon Ugandans to vote wisely. “We need to be careful when voting. Do not just vote anyhow. For those who are challenging him (Museveni), they need to demonstrate their capability to us otherwise he has done well,” Mubaje said.

Mubaje revealed that UMSC got 50 slots out of the 100. “We have 82 Muslim districts and eight regions. We gave three slots per region. So, this program benefited Muslims from all regions. The remaining 20 slots were given to the elderly. What you sowed may look small on the face of it, but the harvest will be immeasurable,” Mubaje said.

Beneficiaries speaks out

Hajjat Aisha Kyakuwa Nanyonga, one of the beneficiaries from the presidential program, thanked the President for supporting them to fulfil the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith.

“I thank the President for supporting me to fulfil the Haj because I had no means. We shall therefore vote for the NRM because this is the only way we can pay back to him,” Nanyonga said.

UMSC spokesperson Ashraf Zziwa Muvawala said, “I thank the President for making my dream true. My father died while in Makkah and was buried there and I always wanted to go there to see where my father was buried.”

Sheikh Abdul Malik Kayole Byaruhanga, the Rukungiri district kadhi said, “We thank you and we shall pay you in the coming elections.”

Making pilgrimage to Makkah is not only a fifth pillar of Islam but also offers significant spiritual, social and personal benefits to Muslims such as spiritual purification.