President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hosted the Muslim community for an Iftar dinner at State House Entebbe, where he praised their commitment to fasting during Ramadan and urged them to focus on economic empowerment.
“We are left with only a few days for Ramadan to end. We pray that God keeps us safe until the end,” Museveni said.
He encouraged religious leaders to guide their followers in balancing worship with efforts to improve household incomes. “You the religious leaders, I think you should begin helping your people to develop the thinking of worshipping and working as well,” he said.
The President commended the Muslim community for embracing the Parish Development Model (PDM), an initiative aimed at boosting household incomes. He reassured them that the funds provided under the program do not carry interest. “I’m glad that you finally accepted my PDM money because some people had misinterpreted that money, saying that it has riba (interest). I’m not profiteering from you,” he explained.
Museveni also highlighted the importance of religious unity, warning against sectarianism. “I want to thank you for listening to our message of unity. You can see how the world is in chaos because of misinterpreting religion. I don’t think God said the Catholics and Protestants should fight Muslims or vice versa,” he said.
He further urged Ugandans to respect freedom of worship. “Why do you interfere in the freedom of worship? Let them worship as long as they don’t break the law,” he stated.
As part of his support for the Muslim community, President Museveni donated 10 tractors to the 10 Muslim regions in Uganda.
Vice President Jessica Alupo thanked Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni for annually inviting the Muslim community to the State Iftar dinner. She acknowledged the President’s role in upholding religious freedom. “Uganda is one of the countries where all religious denominations are respected, honoured, valued, and given maximum freedom of worship,” she said.
Representing the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje, the First Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Waiswa Muhammad Ali, expressed gratitude to the President for his continued support. “We do not take this for granted,” he said.
Sheikh Waiswa also praised Museveni for promoting unity, patriotism, democracy, and socio-economic transformation through various government programs.
