President Museveni has committed Shs2 billion to support the SACCOs of Muslim women across Uganda, reaffirming his government’s efforts to empower women economically.
Speaking at the inaugural Muslim Women’s Conference at Old Kampala SS playground, President Museveni pledged to provide Shs1 billion immediately and an additional Shs1 billion in July next year. The event, themed “The Role of Muslim Women Leaders in Socioeconomic Transformation,” brought together prominent figures from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the Muslim Women’s Council of Uganda.
The president praised the UMSC for empowering women and noted that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has long promoted women’s emancipation and equality. He shared the historical challenges faced by women joining the army during the 1979 conflict against Idi Amin, highlighting the role of women in the armed forces and Parliament.
“You know, in 1979, when we were fighting Idi Amin, we recruited many young people, including girls, to join the army. But our UPC partners refused to allow the women to join the unified army. However, when we came to power, women became part of the national army for the first time,” Museveni explained.
Reflecting on other projects, the president expressed pride in supporting the construction of the Gaddafi National Mosque and the Islamic University in Uganda, both of which have had lasting impacts on the Muslim community.
The president also urged Muslim women to embrace government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, encouraging them to use their talents to combat poverty. “The government is sending support to every parish in the form of PDM money. We are already hearing testimonies of success, and more funds are coming,” he said, assuring the women that the PDM money is interest-free and designed to protect savings from inflation.
Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje acknowledged the evolution of the UMSC’s stance on women’s participation in public life, praising President Museveni for supporting amendments to the UMSC constitution that empowered Muslim women.
He also addressed challenges faced by the Muslim community, including the misuse of social media by certain individuals, whom he said would be summoned and warned for their actions.
Hajjat Sophia Kenyangi Safina, Chairperson of the National Muslim Women Council, expressed her gratitude to the president for his unwavering support in empowering women. She revealed plans for a Shs700 million self-sustaining project aimed at boosting household incomes for Muslims and called on the president to support agricultural and irrigation initiatives for the project.
The event, attended by ministers, MPs, and religious leaders, also unveiled a new centralised digital system to manage and support Muslim women’s SACCOs. This system will allow real-time tracking of SACCO operations and ensure transparency in fund disbursement.
Despite their achievements, Kenyangi highlighted challenges faced by Muslim women, including limited access to vocational education and financial exclusion. She called on the government and development partners to address these barriers to enable Muslim women to fully participate in Uganda’s economic development.
