Museveni pledges tractors to Muslim regions

By Ahmed Idriss

President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to donate tractors to the ten Muslim regions in Uganda to support the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) socio-economic transformation program.  

He made the pledge during the annual state Iftar dinner at State House Entebbe on Tuesday evening. This followed a request from Sheikh Abubakar Umar Obilan, the Northeastern Regional Assistant to the Mufti, who asked the president to support UMSC’s initiatives.  

In 2024, UMSC launched a Ugx 700 million program using internally generated funds to promote self-sustainability across the ten Muslim regions namely Ankole, Bunyoro-Tooro, Kampala, East Buganda, West Buganda, Eastern, Northern, Northeastern, West Nile and Busoga.

During his sermon, Sheikh Obilan urged the president to provide a tractor for each region to boost the program.  

“Your Excellency, we are currently implementing this program. In Northeastern Uganda, we have a project with over 200 sheep. We think when we get a tractor, it will go a long way in enhancing its implementation in line with the government’s program towards economic empowerment,” he said.  

In response, Museveni pledged to donate tractors to each of the ten Muslim regions and provide a vehicle to Sheikh Obilan.  

“I will give each of the ten Muslim regions a tractor and give you a vehicle in the next financial year,” Museveni said.  

He commended UMSC for implementing the socio-economic program, stating, “I am beginning to see that our thinking is going together as a country.”  

Museveni emphasized the need for Ugandans to generate wealth alongside their spiritual well-being.  

“That is why we rolled out the Parish Development Model and provided Ugx 100 million to each parish to benefit Ugandans directly. That is your money; it will stay in the parishes to help Ugandans improve their livelihood. The government doesn’t need it,” he explained.  

He also clarified the five percent top-up on the funds, stating that it was meant to maintain their value rather than serve as interest.  

“The goods you buy for one million Shillings today will cost you more next year because the value of money keeps depreciating,” he said.  

Deputy Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Waiswa, who represented the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, thanked the President for his continued support to Muslims.  

“As Muslims, we extend our appreciation to Your Excellency for always supporting our activities,” he said, pledging UMSC’s full cooperation in implementing government programs such as the Parish Development Model.