President Museveni expressed gratitude to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) leadership for empowering Muslim women through the formation of the National Muslim Women Council of Uganda.
President Museveni officiates at the women’s conference at Old Kampala Mosque - 8th Oct 202444
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has encouraged Muslim women to embrace government poverty alleviation like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
Museveni said that the PDM money is not “riba” and the additional 6 percent on repayment of 1 million Shillings after 2 years is meant to protect the money in the Parish SACCO from inflation.
The President was speaking during the inaugural Muslim Women's Conference held at Old Kampala SS playground, in Kampala under the theme, "The Role of Muslim Women Leaders in Socioeconomic Transformation.” Museveni also contributed Shs 2 billion to Muslim Women SACCOS.“I will contribute 2 billion shillings for the SACCOs of Muslim women. I will mobilise Shs1 billion now and another Shs1 billion in July next year... Now that you are coming out, the only thing I could emphasise for all Ugandans is what is in the Bible where they talk about the Talents. Somebody gave talents (money) to his workers then he went on a long journey, when he came back, one of the workers had multiplied the talents, he was happy with him and the other one who just kept what he was given, the master was not happy with him, he took away the talent from him and added it to the one who multiplied it. All of us are given talents which we should also use to multiply,” Museveni said.
President Museveni also assured the women that the government is looking forward to saving Ugandans from money lenders by offering them money with no or less interest.
At the same function, President Museveni expressed gratitude to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) leadership for empowering Muslim women through the formation of the National Muslim Women Council of Uganda. “I'm happy to see that the thinking of the NRM is now spreading to all of you,” Museveni said. The President said the NRM government has always promoted women's emancipation and equality through various initiatives. “You know in 1979 when we were fighting Idi Amin, we recruited many young people including girls to join the army but at that time we were mixed. We had our other groups like UPC. So, when we came to form one army, our UPC partners refused the girls. They said women are not for the army. We were stuck with our girls in Mbarara but when we had a second round of fighting in Luwero, we resurrected our idea of women joining the army and this time we were by ourselves and women joined in big numbers,” Museveni said.
Museveni said he was very happy that simple efforts can result in things which last long and have a lasting impact. “I want to thank God for how he can use simple people to do things which last long. When I came here and saw this mosque, I felt very happy because this mosque was not there. During Amin’s time, the people in charge had got money from Saudi Arabia to build a mosque but they had not; they had built a crooked structure. Now the Muslim leaders kept telling me about the mosque until I talked to Muammar Gaddafi and he agreed to build the mosque and it is now here with other structures like the shops. I'm very happy that our simple efforts resulted in something like this,” he said.
He also revealed how he supported the idea of setting up an Islamic University in Uganda despite facing opposition from some government officials. “Then you have King Fahad Plaza in town there. Again, I talked to somebody, I think Saudi Arabia, about how to support the Islamic University in Mbale and they gave me $7 million which I used to build King Fahad Plaza which has been helping the university in Mbale. Then the Mbale University itself, some of the people had rejected the idea of an Islamic University. I asked why. They said they were trying to make us an Islamic country, I said no. Some of our people are Muslims, there’s no harm in having something Islamic because some of our people are Muslims. I therefore gave out Nkoma SS, a government school to them and they started that university with that school. Nowadays wherever I go, I find these young people who graduated from that University,” Museveni said.
The Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo thanked the Muslim community for the spirit of unity, hard work, peace, compassion and love. “Those qualities are very strong in Islam,” she asserted.
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje revealed that in the early years, UMSC was against the idea of women being in public space but later they realized that they should take part in the socio-economic spheres of the country for development. “We are here because of the UMSC constitution which was amended to allow women to be in the public space and you highly supported it,” Mubaje said.
The Mufti also noted that the Muslim fraternity in Uganda is now united with less infights. “Although there are some few elements who want to disrupt our programs, as UMSC we are on the right path of working together as Muslims in the country.”
The Chairperson of the National Muslim Women Council under Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Hajjat Sophia Kenyangi Safina informed the President that the council symbolises more than just an organization it represents the unstoppable force of Muslim women driving transformation. She underscored the immense contributions of Muslim women who include leaders, business owners, educators, and caregivers—in shaping Uganda’s future. “Muslim women are not just participants in this journey, but leaders- and through this Council, we will elevate our roles even further. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to you, Your Excellency, for being a steadfast ally in empowering women. Your commitment to gender equality has opened countless doors for women across all sectors. Under your leadership, Muslim women have risen to new heights in politics, business, education, and more,” Kenyangi said.
Hajjat Kenyangi also told the President that the National Muslim Women Council is looking forward to empowering Muslim Women to drive socio-economic growth, ensuring that they are not just contributors, but leaders in the nation’s transformation.