The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje (left) with The National Chairperson of Uganda Muslim Women Council, Hajjat Sofia Kenyangi Safina (third right) and other Uganda Muslim Women Council (UMWC) members after a capacity building conference for Uganda Muslim Women Council (UMWC) at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Headquarters, Old Kampala on the 30th October 2025. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
Muslim leaders hail President Museveni for fulfilling his Shs 2 billion financial pledge on the 30th October 2025
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Muslim women have obtained Shs 2 billion revolving fund from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, a move that was hailed by leaders.
Museveni made a pledge of Shs 2 billion to the Muslim women on 8th October 2024 during the inaugural Muslim Women’s Conference held at Old Kampala SS playground, in Kampala.
The pledge was fulfilled in September 2025 and it was handed over to the Muslim women leaders by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye at Okello House, Nakasero, Kampala.
In his speech, Haji Kirunda, the Deputy Press Secretary to the President, said that the funds are not for sharing, and that it is a revolving fund that must be accessed by all the Muslim women in the country without discrimination.
“We have provided the guidelines to be used to manage the funds and there should be no excuse for misapplying the funds. All the Muslim regions numbering 82 should access the fund,”he emphasized.
“This fund should be a turning point for enhancing the welfare of Muslim women in Uganda, probably in new dimensions not experimented with before.”
Haji Kirunda added that the conference running under the theme of women economic empowerment for growth and sustainable development through savings and credit cooperative organizations, was a timely theme because it ties in well with one of the UMWC’s main objectives of enabling the Muslim women leaders to form self-sufficient projects that can facilitate them to save, access government funds and eliminate poverty in their midst.
On the other hand, Haji Kirunda reaffirmed that the NRM government has always advocated for freedom of worship and everyone is free to associate with the religion of their choice.
“The government also intends well for its people and would like everyone to develop evenly and to achieve in life,” he said.
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje said currently the Muslim fraternity is celebrating the fruits of unity and the development of UMSC structures.
“We are now looking into ways of developing our communities by seeing how our mothers and sisters can fight poverty. We thank H.E the President for the support,” he said.
Dr. Hamiat Sengendo, the Coordinator of women and Gender at the Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) thanked President Museveni for the empowerment fund aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of Muslim women across the country.
“I also appreciate Hajjat Sofia and her team for bringing Muslim women together in the country,” Dr. Sengendo said.
Ms. Sarah Namugooya, the Cooperative Officer at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) explained that President Museveni’s empowerment fund to Muslim Women SACCOs does not contravene with Islamic teachings on riba (interest).
The President also offered to financially empower our Imams. It requires almost Shs50 billion and the President is willing to support those Imams to fight poverty.
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