The Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje has thrown his weight behind the council to utilize the land to generate some income and protect it from grabbing.
The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh, Shaban
Ramadhan Mubaje has backed a proposal by Luweero Muslim officials to establish
a market and other developmental projects on their land amidst protests.
In 1942, the late Prince Badru
Kakungulu donated 20 acres of land in Kasana Market zone in Luweero town
council to Muslims to establish a mosque and other developmental projects. Muslims
have managed to establish a mosque, Primary and Secondary School on part of the
land.
However, 12 acres of land are idle.
Recently, Luweero District Muslim Council passed a resolution allocating five
acres of land to the weekly farmer’s market to generate revenue for the council.
The farmer’s market attracts over 2000 vendors.
However, the proposal met strong criticism from a section of
Muslims arguing that vendors may engage in activities that go against Islamic
teachings.
The Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan
Mubaje has thrown his weight behind the council to utilize the land to generate some income and protect
it from grabbing.
Mubaje notes that he is aware of the
projects council has proposed to set up on the land and has no problem provided
it will generate revenue to support Muslim activities.
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Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa Nsanja, the
Acting Luweero District Kadhi, says they have renewed talks with stakeholders
to ensure that the market is established on the land to generate revenue for
the council.
Mulindwa notes that they expect to
collect Shillings 4 million from the market that will be used for development
works.
He allayed fear that the vendors may engage in activities that
contradict Islamic teachings, saying their Memorandum of Understanding is clear.
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Luganda Byte
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But Hajji Musa Kakande, who leads a section of
Muslims opposed to the establishment of a market on the land, says there are
other projects that they can discuss with the leaders to set up on the land.
Kakande says the market attracts
many things and some of them go against the Islamic faiths, which they may not
stop when the land is leased to vendors. Kakande insisted that they will fight any project on the land
if it compromises the Islamic faith.
The Luweero District Security Committee also passed a
resolution stopping the establishment of a market on the land and ordered
Police to block vendors from operating there.
Ronald Ndawula, the Luweero
LC V Chairman is also opposed to the idea of establishing a market in their
area, saying it cannot operate adjacent to a Health Center, Mosque and school.
