The Mufti of Uganda, Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has concluded a three-day working visit to the West Nile Muslim Region, commissioning five fully stocked Halaal Farmers Centres aimed at strengthening agricultural production and improving household incomes.
The initiative, implemented under the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, saw the Mufti tour districts including Arua, Koboko, and Yumbe, with the final centres launched in Moyo and Adjumani, bringing the total to five.
“These centres are part of the ten-year UMSC Strategic Development Plan,” Mubaje said. “It is this strategic direction that guided UMSC to partner with Matugga Industries & Logistics Hub to promote quality agricultural production based on modern techniques within our communities.”
The centres are stocked with fertilizers, improved seeds, veterinary drugs, and farming equipment supplied by Matugga Industries & Logistics Hub, a firm the Mufti said had been vetted for its capacity to deliver genuine and affordable agricultural inputs.
Mubaje noted that the centres are expected to address a persistent challenge facing farmers—counterfeit agricultural products—which he said have led to declining soil productivity and losses in crop and livestock production.
“Many farmers have suffered because of fake inputs that reduce soil productivity and damage crops, poultry, and livestock,” he said.
He urged farmers to embrace the initiative and called on local leaders, including Resident District Commissioners and LC V chairpersons, to support its implementation.
“These centres are meant to complement government efforts in poverty eradication and contribute to socio-economic transformation,” he added.
Beyond the agricultural initiative, Mubaje commended Muslims in the West Nile region for maintaining unity under UMSC leadership, cautioning against attempts to create division.
“I thank you for rejecting divisive attempts by misguided individuals seeking to create confusion in this region,” he said.
On his return journey, the Mufti made a stop at Riyadh Mosque, where he led Maghrib and Isha prayers and interacted with members of the Muslim community.
The visit concluded in Arua City with a dinner hosted by Muhmood Andama at his residence, marking the end of a tour that combined religious engagement with economic empowerment initiatives.
The rollout of the Halaal Farmers Centres reflects a broader push by UMSC to integrate faith-based leadership with community development, particularly in agriculture, which remains a key pillar of livelihoods in the West Nile sub-region.