Be fair to Muslims – UMSC tells government
The Spokesperson of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Haji Nsereko Mutumba has accused the NRM government of being unfair to Muslims when it comes to public service appointments.
Haji Nsereko Mutumba was speaking during a press briefing held at the UMSC headquarters Old Kampala.
Haji Mutumba singled out the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, the Judiciary, Ambassadors, CAOs, KCCA, Municipal Town Clerks, Operation Wealth Creation, Public Corporations and States Enterprises and Accounting Officers for central government votes as the leading institutions in discrimination against Muslims.
He wondered how the ministry of ethics and integrity serves Muslim interests when the Minister, Permanent Secretary, legal Officers, the Director and the Senior Presidential adviser on Religious Affairs are non Muslims.
Out of 177 judges, magistrates, registrars etc, there are only five Muslims, Haji Mutumba displayed evidence showing that there are only 5 Muslims.
When it comes to the 141 accounting officers for central government votes, there is only one Muslim; Asuman Lukwago.
He noted that according to media reports, the would be second Muslim, Haji Yunus Kakande who was appointed on the directive of the President is being fought.
“How can you refuse to abide by a presidential directive? Who are you? Is it because the appointee is a Muslim?” Haji Mutumba wondered.
Regarding the Presidential pledges, Haji Nsereko Mutumba urged President Museveni to fulfil the pledges he made to Muslims, like he has done for other religions.
He mentioned the President’s pledge to renovate the national Mosque and the shs 50 million pledge to the UMSC secretariat for youth and women.
“Like Namugongo, the National Mosque is also a gazetted tourist attraction cite which receives over 50 tourists per day” Haji Mutumba said.
The other areas cited by Haji Nsereko Mutumba as muslim unfriendly are as follows:
- Out of the 65 heads of Public Corporations and States Enterprises, only two are Muslims
- Out of the 128 CAOs, there are only 6 Muslims
- Out of the 35 Ugandan Ambassadors, only 2 are Muslims.
- None of the KCCA Directors and Deputy Directors is a Muslim.
Haji Mutumba said that this state of affairs has given some Muslims an impression that the NRM government does not care about them, yet they have always voted it into power.
“Besides, like other Ugandans, Ugandan Muslims deserve to be treated fairly when it comes to sharing the national cake and access to justice” Haji Nsereko Mutumba noted.
He said that Muslims feel let down by the government that they have supported since the 1980s.
Haji Nsereko Mutumba however gave thumbs up to President Museveni for increasing the number of Muslim RDCs and Deputy RDCs to 24.
“This is a sign that he had our cry” Haji Mutumba said.
He also lauded President Museveni for appointing Haji Yunus Kakande as Secretary, Office of the President, noting that Haji Kakande is a dedicated civil servant.
