UMSC to invest Shs 700million in agricultural projects
By Ashiraf Zziwa
Uganda Muslim Supreme Council [UMSC] has launched a Shs 700 million project to boost agriculture across the country.
Prof Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC national chairperson, launched the social and economic transformation project on behalf of the mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje yesterday at a seminar that took place at Insan International University at the UMSC headquarters.
The seminar was organized to sensitize members of the national task force, selected from the UMSC national executives, management committee, regional assistants to the Mufti, and regional secretaries.
Lubega explained that these economic transformation projects are part of the UMSC ten-year strategic developmental plan aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of the Muslim community.
He highlighted how Muslims have lagged behind in development, resulting in stagnation of household income and an inability to support Islamic activities or fulfill religious obligations such as paying Zakat and performing the haj.
According to the plan, each of the ten Muslim regions will receive Shs 60 million. The projects are expected to begin implementation on August 9 starting at the regional level.
The projects will be implemented on 110 acres of documented UMSC land. The yield distribution will be; 40% to the UMSC headquarters, 20% retained at the regions, and 40% shared between the counties and mosques.
“We have presented this plan to President Museveni and he pledged to offer more funds, especially when he sees that we have commenced implementation,” Lubega said.
He urged Muslim faithfuls to rally behind UMSC for self-sustaining economic growth. Participants from their respective regions resolved to implement the following projects.
Kampala will focus on bricket making and poultry keeping, East Buganda will concentrate on coffee growing, West Buganda will also engage in coffee growing, Busoga will undertake cocoa production, Ankole-Kigezi will focus on coffee growing, Bunyoro-Toro will engage in both coffee growing and cocoa production, the Eastern Region will concentrate on coffee growing, West Nile will focus on cocoa production whereas Northern and North Eastern Regions opted for sheep and goat rearing.
