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Presidential advisor, Moses Byaruhanga, State House Comptroller Jane Barigye (middle) and the Deputy Mufti of Uganda Muhammad Ali Waiswa (right) receiving Museveni package. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to sponsor 100 Muslim clerics to perform Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, fulfilling a request made to State House as far back as 2010.
As part of fulfilling one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey at least once in their lifetime to the “House of Allah” in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to sponsor 100 Muslim clerics annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. This initiative supports the fulfillment of one of the key pillars of Islam," said State House Comptroller Jane Barekye.
State House comptroller Jane Barigye bidding farewell to the Muslim women leaders who came to receive President Museveni's package at President's Office Auditorium in Kampala. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
While distributing presidential travel packages to Muslim leaders at the Office of the President in Kampala on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Barekye said the President urged the clerics to pray for peace as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections.
“President Museveni supports underprivileged Muslims, especially clerics who have never performed Hajj. He asked you to go to Mecca and pray not only for yourselves and your families but also for peace to prevail in our country,” she stated.
State House controller Jane Barigye asked Muslims to promote unity among factions in the faith at Presidents Office Building in Kampala on Tuesday
Museveni urges clerics to adopt four-acre model to fight poverty
President Museveni also encouraged the Muslim leaders to preach the message of economic empowerment through the four-acre model, which promotes the productive use of small landholdings to sustain families and generate income.
“Use one acre to grow coffee, one for zero-grazing livestock, one to grow food crops, and another for poultry to ensure daily income for your families,” Barekye explained.
She further revealed that the President had provided each selected leader with $500 (approximately UGX 1.8 million) as pocket money, and covered return airfare, visa processing, accommodation, meals, and internal transport in Saudi Arabia.
The sponsorship targets underprivileged clerics who have never had the means to undertake the pilgrimage, many of whom have long aspired to fulfill this religious obligation.
The Deputy Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Hafidh Haroon Muhammad Bukenya, who represented His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, expressed gratitude for the President’s generosity and continued engagement with the Muslim community.
“President Museveni tasked the Mufti to compile a list of 100 Muslim leaders annually for support. He also helped us clear a UGX 14 billion debt related to the land dispute involving Gaddafi Mosque, among other valuable contributions,” Bukenya said.
Part of the clothes packages that were donated by State House to Muslims for Hijja. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
He also relayed a message from the Mufti, urging Muslim leaders to foster unity for peace, security, and economic development, and to embrace government-backed SACCOs aligned with Islamic banking principles.
Imam Ali Juma Shiwuyo, Secretary for Hajj at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), also commended the President for honoring the Mufti’s longstanding request to assist clerics who could not afford the pilgrimage.
"President Museveni is a father of the nation who listens and cares for all his people," Imam Shiwuyo said.
Sheikh Saidi Kasauli, President of the National Assembly of Imams in Uganda, recalled that in 2010, imams met with the President and requested his support to attend Hajj. “We are grateful that he has fulfilled this promise,” Kasauli said.
“Let us also engage in government programs that aim to lift our people out of poverty while aligning with Islamic banking principles,” he added. “This trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an opportunity for spiritual growth for many of us.”
The Deputy Mufti of Uganda within the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Muhammad Ali Waiswa commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his support to Hijja. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
President Museveni has consistently demonstrated his support for the Muslim community in Uganda, and this latest gesture reinforces his commitment to inclusivity and religious harmony.
The pilgrimage sponsorship is seen as part of the government’s broader efforts to promote peace, stability, and mutual respect among Uganda’s diverse religious and cultural groups.
Moses Byaruhanga, the President’s Senior Advisor on Political Affairs, described the sponsorship as a testament to President Museveni’s dedication to uplifting the Muslim community.
"This gesture reflects the President’s goodwill and enduring commitment to supporting all Ugandans, regardless of their religious background," Byaruhanga said.
The trip is expected to be a transformative spiritual journey for the clerics, deepening their faith and strengthening national unity through shared values of peace and coexistence.
©Torch Media Africa
