President Museveni has splashed Shs2billion to Muslim women SACCOs in the country with an initial contribution of Shs1bn and another coming in July next year.
The President made the revelation during the inaugural Muslim Women’s Conference held at Old Kampala SS playground, in Kampala. The event ran under the theme, “The Role of Muslim Women Leaders in Socioeconomic Transformation”.
Museveni expressed gratitude to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) leadership for empowering Muslim women through the formation of the National Muslim Women Council of Uganda.
“Again I’m happy to see that the thinking of the NRM is now spreading to all of you,” he noted.
Museveni said the National Resistance Movement government has always promoted women emancipation and equality through various initiatives.
“You know in 1979 when we were fighting Idi Amin, we recruited many young people including girls to join the army but at that time we were mixed. We had our other groups like UPC. So when we came to form one army, our UPC partners refused the girls. They said women are not for the army. We were stuck with our girls in Mbarara but when we had a second round of fighting in Luwero, we resurrected our idea of women joining the army and this time we were by ourselves and women joined in big numbers,” he explained.
He went on,
“When we captured power, they joined the national army for the first time. And these women are good shooters. When we came to Parliament, we created a special seat for the women and other marginalised groups. Now, I didn’t know that you the Muslims had been left behind on the issue of women. Now I welcome you to the NRM’s journey of civilization.”
The President said he was very happy that simple efforts can result in things which last long and have a lasting impact.
“I want to thank God for how he can use simple people to do things which last long. When I come here and see this mosque, I feel very happy because this mosque was not there. During Amin’s time the people in charge had got money from Saudi Arabia to build a mosque but they had not; they had built a crooked structure. Now the Muslim leaders kept telling me about the mosque until I talked to Muammar Gaddafi and he agreed to build the mosque and it is now here with other structures like the shops. I’m very happy that our simple efforts resulted in something like this,” he said. He also revealed how he supported the idea of setting up an Islamic University in Uganda despite facing opposition from some government officials.
He encouraged Muslim women to fight poverty through embracing various government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
“Now that you are coming out, the only thing I could emphasize for all Ugandans is what is in the Bible where they talk about the Talents. Somebody gave talents (money) to his workers then he went on a long journey, when he came back, one of the workers had multiplied the talents, he was happy with him and the other one who just kept what he was given, the master was not happy with him, he took away the talent from him and added it to the one who multiplied it. All of us are given talents which we should also use to multiply,” he said.
President Museveni also assured the women that the government is looking forward to saving Ugandans from money lenders by offering them money with no or less interest.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo thanked the Muslim community for the spirit of unity, hard-work, peace, compassion and love. “Those qualities are very strong in Islam,” she asserted.
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje revealed that in early years, UMSC was against the idea of women being in public space but later they realised that they should take part in the socio-economic spheres of the country for development.
“We are here because of the UMSC constitution which was amended to allow women to be in the public space and you highly supported it, Your Excellency,” Sheikh Mubaje said.
Sheikh Mubaje also said that the Muslim fraternity in Uganda is now united with less infights citing some elements calling themselves Sheikhs who are trying to antagonize their programs.
“We are noting them down and we shall summon them and warn them to stop destabilising our country.” he said.
He also thanked the Special Presidential Assistant–Press and Mobilisation, Haji Faruk Kirunda for supporting UMSC in organising the conference.
The National Chairperson of UMSC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Lubega Kisambira informed the President that the structures under the UMSC are able and willing to work with the government to improve the socio-economic status of Ugandans.
“We have learnt a lot from your counsel, wisdom, experience in emancipation and fighting poverty,” he said.
On the other hand, the Chairperson of the National Muslim Women Council under Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Hajjat Sophia Kenyangi Safina informed the President that the council symbolizes more than just an organisation—it represents the unstoppable force of Muslim women driving transformation in our society.
She underscored the immense contributions of Muslim women who include leaders, business owners, educators, and caregivers—in shaping Uganda’s future.
