Museveni pledges national mosque, liberate Muslim's land in Namugongo

By Salmah Namwanje

President Museveni has pledged to liberate Uganda Muslim Supreme Council land in Namugongo that is occupied by encroachers.

The six-acre piece of land has been encroached on – with the standing Mosque sitting on half an acre.

This was during the presidential annual Iftar dinner at state House Entebbe where the president hosted Muslims from different Sects.

The president was responding to a call by the Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje who asked him to help Muslims regain this land that is currently occupied by squatters.

The two martyrs’ shrines at Namugongo were given a facelift during the papal visit in 2015 but the mosque that is located adjacent to the Anglican shrine remains undeveloped with most of its land grabbed by encroachers.

"On June 3rd, as we celebrated the Uganda Martyrs, I came to learn that there were actually a good number of Muslim Martyrs. I have agreed with the Mufti to redeem the place where they were killed, about six acres, and construct a memorial for them," Museveni said.

Museveni also promised that government would be funding renovation works on the Gaddaf National Mosque in the next financial year.

Sheikh Mubajje pointed out the arrest of Muslims over murder crimes with Museveni responding that criminality had no religion or tribe.