Supreme Mufti’s Waqf drive raises Shs 1bn
By Sarah Nalule
At a dinner hosted at Hotel Africana in Kampala on October 2, the Office of the Supreme Mufti mobilised more than Shs 1 billion in cash and pledges towards the construction of a five-storey commercial Waqf building in Kyanja, Kampala, in a major push to establish a sustainable funding source for Islamic activities.
The fundraising drive attracted prominent Muslim businessmen, religious leaders, political figures and members of the Muslim community. Businessman Hajji Hassan Bulwadda made a cash payment of Shs 20 million and a pledge of Shs 200 million. Other major contributions included a pledge of 1,000 bags of cement from the Muslim Parliamentary Caucus, 200 bags from the Islamic Centre for Education and Research, and 100 bags from Kampala Capital City Authority executive director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki.
The Office of the Supreme Mufti contributed 460 bags of cement, while other supporters included BMK Group, Hajji Isaac Ngobya, Kampala University’s Prof Badru Kateregga and Hajji Butannaziba Tamale of The Tamales, who pledged Shs 10 million each.
Kampala minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda pledged Shs 5 million, while Imam Iddi Kasozi, on behalf of the Mia Mia Foundation, contributed Shs 2 million and Shs 2.5 million on behalf of the Mawanga Muslim Community.
Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu also announced additional support towards the project on behalf of Kibuli Mosque.
Speaking at the fundraising, Prince Nakibinge thanked the attendees for responding to the call in large numbers, describing the turnout as a demonstration of what the Muslim community can achieve through collective action.
“It is no longer easy to invite people for a fundraiser, and they turn up in big numbers. This is a testament to the fact that we can achieve so much as the Muslim community if we agree to work together,” he said.
Once completed, the Kyanja Waqf project is hoped to generate sustainable income to support the operations of the Office of the Supreme Mufti, as well as Islamic and other community activities.
The Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Shaban Galabuzi, said the latest mobilisation exercise had generated more than Shs 1 billion in pledges.
“Within just one hour, we have raised over Shs 1.079 billion in pledges and Shs 196 million in cash,” Sheikh Galabuzi said, adding that, “The remaining works require about Shs2.4 billion. We are thankful to Allah for this achievement.”
The total cost of completing the project is estimated at Shs 4.5 billion. Construction works for the project began on March 02, with Galabuzi making an appeal for donations, which attracted responses from businessman Hajji Muwanga Bukandula, who gave Shs 200 million and Salam Charity, which contributed Shs 2.5 million.
