MUSLIM COMMUNITY , Friday, January 8, 2016 27 Embrace government Emphasise dialogue, Kiyonga tells Muslims

KASESE by New Vision, accuses programmes — Toro Khadi prominent businessman By Wilson Asiimwe Remathan Baligira Tawakal of conniving FORT PORTAL The Minister of Defence, Dr. with Muslim Crispus Kiyonga, has called Supreme council (UMSC) By Geoffrey Mutegeki for dialogue to resolve the to grab his land in Bwera. conflicts among the Muslim “Tawakal and his agents The Toro region adviser to community in district. are causing confusion among the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Kiyonga, who was the Muslims in Kasese by Habib Monday, has challenged recently speaking at a grabbing our property. Muslims to embrace government function to swear in new They are land grabbers programmes this year. Imams at Bwera Mosque in who claim to be working Monday noted that Muslims, , Lhubiriha town for UMSC,” Migdad said. like other Ugandans need to raise council, said Muslims in their household incomes and Kasese have been divided this can be done better through due to avoidable conflicts embracing programmes geared and urged all the different BETWEEN THE LINES: towards income generation. factions to come together “I call on Muslims to be and resolve their conflicts. n Kiyonga said the focused and work towards “I understand there are a misunderstandings improving on their household lot of wrangles caused by portray Islam as a incomes,” Monday said. some individuals claiming disorganised religion. He called upon the youth ownership of Muslim He also asked for to stop despising jobs and properties in Kasese district, discussions as the only to use the available land and but the best alternative option to unite the opportunities to get themselves is to embrace dialogue conflicting parties. out of poverty. and come together for “As youth you need to be peace,” Kiyonga said. creative. There are some jobs He said the which the youth don’t want misunderstandings portray However, Tawakal denies to do, yet these jobs can help Islam as a disorganised the claims, saying he is not them get out of poverty. For religion. Kiyonga asked involved in land grabbing example, farming. The majority Muslim faithful holding prayers at Fort Portal Mosque. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki for roundtable discussions and that he was not of the youth have run to town yet as an option to unite the plotting to murder Migdad. there is money in villages where conflicting parties and repair “That is a baseless claim. farming can be done,” Monday yesterday, Monday challenged the damaged reputation. For someone to jump from added. Monday asked Muslims to politicians to stop dividing Haji Migdad Saad, the nowhere and start accusing He revealed that the people along religious and tribal executive director of Saad me of grabbing land that I Government has offered lines. Foundation Trust, during have never been involved support to the youth, but this embrace programmes geared “Uganda is for all of us and a recent media briefing in is unfair,” said Tawakal. support can only be accessed by all people are equal. Politics of said he had petitioned Tawakal said the land in clever youths who are creative. towards income generation tribalism and sectarianism is the Police chief, Gen. Kale question, which is located As the general elections draw very dangerous to the peace Kayihura, over death threats in Lhubiriha town council nearer, Monday asked Muslims of this country and should from a section of Muslim belongs to UMSC and it is to be peaceful and desist from peace-loving people. Let us after elections and we should be condemned. Do not vote leaders in Kasese town. not right for an individual to all forms of violence. demonstrate this even during remain focused,” Monday said. politicians promoting such,” he Migdad in a petition seen start claiming its ownership. “As Muslims we are the election period. There is life Speaking to New Vision on said. Do not politicise Muslim Muslim women asked to form groups killings, say families KIBAALE KAMPALA By Ismael Kasooha

By Farooq Kasule Finance minister Matia Kasaija has asked Muslim women to The families of the slain Muslim clerics and those on the form groups if they are to benefit Maria alleged hit list, have appealed to the Inspector General from government programmes. Kasaija of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura, against politicising “The other religious bodies delivering Muslim clerics deaths since it would frustrate the hunt for have got women associations her the murderers. and groups that work for the husband's They made the comments recently at Wandegeya good of the women unlike the message Mosque in Kampala during a one-day Islamic conference Muslims,” said Kasaija. at Muhorro about the dangers of an unreligious young generation. Kasaija’s message was Mosque The first deputy supreme mufti, Sheikh Muhamood delivered by his wife Maria in Kibaale Kibaate, warned that death of someone’s family member Kasaija during an annual district. cannot be an issue of politics and justice has to prevail women’s seminar at Muhorro Photo by whether delayed or not. Mosque in Kibaale district Ismael “It is wrong to politicise someone’s murder,” Kibaate, recently. Kasaija said he has Kasooha who is also among the Muslim clerics on the hit list, said. been invited by many women Others are Sheikhs Swidiq Ndaula, Najib Ssonko, Yasin groups, but none has been from help women groups to start their day-to-day activities. Muslim women to get income- Kakomo, Haroona Jjemba and Prince Kassim Nakibinge the Muslim community. income-generating activities to “We have been emphasising generating activities to ensure Kakungulu. He said the Government reduce on dependence on men. on creating awareness about continuity of the families even in Kibaate was responding to comments made by the wants to help organised groups “As women we need to have our religious teachings so as to help the absence of their husbands. chairperson of bodaboda cyclists 2010, Abdullah Kitatta, of youth and women to increase own side incomes so that we are our fellow women understand Sheikh Isaac Ssemakula, the who belongs to the Nakasero Tabliq Muslim faction, that their household incomes so as not entirely dependent on men what their religion teaches head of Islamic preaching in the Government cannot side with people who are killing to improve their livelihoods. or our husbands,” said Maria. to ensure stable families and Kibaale district, asked women Muslims. This was in the presence of the IGP at Busega. Kasaija also said the Farida Tumusiime, the proper child upbringing,” said to respect their husbands Sheikh Ndaula said if the Police feels there is no Government will increase chairperson of the Kibaale Tumusiime. as Prophet Muhammad's evidence against the accused, they should be released. funding to micro finance support Muslim Women Association for Under the theme “empowering teachings command. “Let the Police take away their guards because we are institutions so that many people Dawa and Development, said women Muslims to understand The one-week seminar was now ready to meet our colleagues who were gunned can access money to increase they have put emphasis on their religion for harmonious attended by over 500 women down because of our religion,” Ndaula said. their competitiveness. helping Muslim women learn families,” Tumusiime appealed from the districts of Kibaale, Maria Kasaija promised to religion, which can help them in to the Government to empower Kyenjojo and Hoima.