Gov’t pledges to collaborate with faith-based organizations to enhance the livelihoods of individuals
President Yoweri Museveni has praised the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) for promoting unity and progress among its members. The acknowledgment was during the UMSC’s 50th anniversary celebration in Kampala on December 12, 2024.
In a speech delivered by Vice President Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, the President expressed his appreciation for Mufti Ramadhan Mubaje and his leadership in successfully organizing the Golden Jubilee festivities.
“I thank Allah for enabling the leadership of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, to grow the Muslim faith; and foster unity and development among Moslems. I join you to celebrate all the achievements of the past fifty years; and wish you greater success, in the coming years,” he noted.
The President praised UMSC for its collaboration with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government in providing social services to the community and for mobilizing Muslims in Uganda to participate in the wealth creation initiative aimed at eradicating poverty at the household level.
He emphasized that the NRM Government stands as a protector of religious freedom.
“All Ugandans enjoy the unfettered right of worship. What the NRM opposes, is the abuse of religion, by creating divisions among the people of Uganda. It is ungodly to divide our people, on the basis of gender, religion, race, tribe, etc. In the NRM, we prioritise the common interests of the people, since these cut across all religions and tribes,” he noted.
He emphasized that every community, regardless of tribe or religion, desires essential services such as hospitals, schools, and well-maintained roads.
“I, therefore, thank Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, for collaborating with other religious groups in Uganda, under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, to promote the interests that are common to all people,” Museveno said.
He stressed that every region of Uganda is experiencing unprecedented peace and stability, complemented by modern infrastructure, including well-maintained roads, reliable electricity, and a robust ICT framework.
He asserted that these favorable conditions of peace and quality infrastructure should be transformed into wealth and increased incomes for households.
“There are four sectors, where you can generate wealth and jobs. These are: commercial agriculture, industries, services and ICT. Every household should be helped to select a profitable enterprise in any of these sectors. Government has put in place the wealth funds like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Fund, etc., to support the wealth creators,” he added.
The President emphasized that the government will maintain its collaboration with UMSC and other faith-based organizations to help elevate communities from poverty and stagnation.
“I want to encourage the Muslim community to join me, in the wealth creation sensitization drive. Whereas we can have spectators in sports and theatre, wealth creation must involve everyone. The message of the NRM is that every household must select an economic enterprise in the four sectors of: commercial agriculture, industries, ICT and Services,” he noted.
He stressed that this will enable the households to become creators of wealth and jobs.
“Currently, we still have 38% of the homestead outside the money economy. They are in the subsistence economy of working only for food. How can one expect to take their children to school or buy medicine and clothes for them, if they have no money? Therefore, in order to build prosperous and stable homes, all our people must transition from subsistence farming to the modern money economy,” he noted.
