Nabakooba commissions new Mityana Muslim district offices 

By Abdul-Wahid Kakande

Lands minister Judith Nabakooba has urged Muslims in Mityana district to strive for progress by embracing the various poverty alleviation programs that have been initiated by the government including the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Nabakooba made the call while commissioning the new Mityana Muslim district administrative offices at Buye on Sunday August 31.

“I urge you to keep this spirit and ensure you work towards succeeding. Always strive for progress and engage in development programs initiated by the government to tap into the money economy,” Nabakooba said.

Nabakooba also hailed the Muslim community for its efforts to see that they raise the flag high as they run God’s (Allah) activities.

Nabakooba also the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer injected sh5m into the Muslim district Imam’s Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO).

She pledged to lobby support for them from the government, saying, “the President promised to support all SACCOs for imams.”

Other pertinent issues discussed included a proposed skilling hub, land issues-where the minister asked them to renew their trustees to help them process titles and equip their offices with computers to ease their work.

“I will work with leaders to see how land issues can be addressed,” Nabakooba said.

She revealed that the government has since procured tools used in conducting boundary opening for the benefit of Mityana and Nakaseke districts.

Mityana district kadhi, Sheikh Bashir Muhammad Luwenda said they have since embarked on development projects including starting a SACCO for all Imams in the districts.

“We started this SACCO to empower our imams financially. They save and borrow money to put in their businesses,” he said.

By starting the SACCO, Luwenda said they are moving away from relying on contributions from the believers that are not dependable. There are over 203 mosques in Mityana district which implies that the district has more than 400 Imams.

Sheikh Luwenda also used the function to request the minister to remind the President of his pledge to provide him with the vehicle during his recent Parish Development Model (PDM) tour in Mityana district that is yet to be fulfilled.

“We will be happy if the President fulfills his promise. All the other district khadis have vehicles but here we are yet to get one,” Luwenda said.  

Nabakooba promised to engage the President to table the request.