President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday hosted the Muslim community for an Iftar dinner at State House Entebbe.
During the dinner, the President congratulated the Muslims for successfully fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
“We are left with only a few days for Ramadan to end. We pray that God keeps us safe until the end,” he said.
President Museveni also urged believers that as they worship God, they should also think about working towards improving their 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.
President Museveni further lauded the Muslims for finally embracing the Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative.
“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, the government of Uganda is our grandparent, and this grandparent gives you money every year per parish and this money is yours, it’s not going back to the government so that’s not profiteering,” he said.
“The five percent we are putting on the Shs1m for each year is in order to keep the value for that money so that it is able to maintain the purchasing power of a product.”
Furthermore, the President commended Muslims for listening to the NRM message of unity.
“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. I have never read it anywhere when God is saying that you must have sectarianism,” he noted.
“Those people who do discrimination are really greedy people. The way you have been introducing yourselves, the Sunnis, Shia, Ahmadiyas are all here. I think that’s very good; that’s the spirit of God in my view.”
President Museveni also cautioned against interfering in the freedom of worship.
“Why do you interfere in the freedom of worship? Let them worship as long as they don’t break the law.”
President Museveni also contributed 10 tractors to the 10 Muslim regions in Uganda
