President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has met a delegation of Muslim leaders at State Lodge, Nakasero, as part of his ongoing engagements with key stakeholders ahead of the 2026 general elections. The meeting focused on national unity, peace, freedom of worship and socio-economic transformation through wealth creation.
The delegation was led by former First Deputy Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo, and included Muslim leaders from Western, Eastern, Northern and Central Uganda, reflecting broad regional representation within the Muslim community.
During the engagement, President Museveni commended Muslim leaders for their continued contribution to national development and for providing moral guidance to their communities. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with religious institutions to address community challenges and support initiatives that improve the welfare of citizens.
“We have no issue with religious beliefs because God is one. Your different ways of looking at Him are your issues. As long as you don’t break the law, I have no problem at all,” Museveni said, underscoring Uganda’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship and peaceful coexistence.
Call for Wealth Creation
The President urged Muslim leaders to place greater emphasis on wealth creation as a sustainable way of lifting communities out of poverty, noting that economic empowerment is key to national stability and development.
“We should also concentrate on wealth creation. Whatever you believe in, please get out of poverty,” Museveni said, encouraging communities to actively participate in government programmes aimed at improving household incomes.
In his concluding remarks, Museveni thanked the Muslim community for its continued support of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), noting that supporting the ruling party also aligns with supporting national development. He recalled a past engagement in Ishaka, quoting businessman and politician Hassan Basajjabala, who observed that supporting the NRM was not only about backing a political party but also about supporting oneself through stability and development.
Muslim Leaders Pledge Support
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo thanked the President for inviting Muslim leaders for dialogue and for his continued support to the Muslim community.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for inviting us and for the great work you have done to develop this country, Your Excellency,” Sheikh Ssemambo said.
He praised President Museveni for upholding freedom of worship in Uganda and reaffirmed the Muslim leadership’s commitment to working with government to promote unity, peaceful coexistence and socio-economic development.
“We have come to reaffirm that we are following you, we are behind you, and we are doing our best to guide the people that this is the right person to support,” he said.
Former Bunyoro-Tooro Regional Kadhi, Sheikh Muhammad Irumba, also commended Museveni for his leadership and contribution to Uganda’s progress.
“We extend our most sincere appreciation for your good leadership and contribution to the country,” Sheikh Irumba said.
The meeting highlighted the continued collaboration between government and religious leaders in fostering national unity, peace and inclusive socio-economic development as Uganda heads into the 2026 elections.
