{UAH} INSTALLATION OF IBANDA QADHI

NEWS RAELEASE

Sunday, 30^th August 2014

"I am happy with religious tolerance among Ugandans" – President Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has expressed happiness at the level of religious tolerance among Ugandans. He said that this is well manifested by the harmonious co-existence and cooperation among all religious denominations in the country noting that Uganda had now healed from the wounds of religious sectarianism that thrived during the time of past governments. He said that feat of sectarianism and other non-principled divisions contributed to the collapse of the State and the country.

The President made the remarks at yesterday at Rugarama Primary School in Ibanda Town Council where he was chief guest at the inauguration of Ibanda Muslim district council and the installation of the first Ibanda district Khadi, Sheik Yusufu Kalule.

President Museveni stressed that Uganda had in the past collapsed because of poor leaders who embraced religious sectarianism and mixed politics and religious work saying this greatly divided Ugandans, polarized society leading to the total breakdown of the country. He expressed happiness that religious institutions in Uganda had embraced the National Resistance Movement's teaching of unity and co-existence of all Ugandans.

"Thanks for embracing religious tolerance because sectarianism in un-Godly and unholy", he told the congregation that included Muslim, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and Pentecostal Churches' leaders.

Quoting the Biblical golden commandment of "love your neighbour as you love yourself", the President said that Biblical text is a summary of all the other commandments no matter what religious denomination one belongs to. He noted that if everybody fulfilled commandment the world would be in peace and harmony.

"Look at what is happening in the Arab world. All nations are in turmoil and collapsing and millions are in camps and others are refugees partly because of poor leadership and also partly due to intolerance and sectarianism of all forms", he added.

President Museveni, who also laid a foundation stone for Ibanda Muslim district administration block and contributed Shs.10 million towards its construction, urged all Ugandans to support and cherish unity of all citizens and work for the development of their country.

He singled out the country's remaining major challenge as war against household poverty and called on the people of Ibanda district to grow coffee, bananas, engage in dairy farming, poultry and piggery to boost their household income. He said that household income was good for individual families, religious institutions and the country.

The President urged the population to embrace the on-going National Identity card exercise saying it is an important undertaking because the card will enable one to access all national services including voting, travelling and banking facilities, among others.

During ceremony, the President donated a car to the pioneer Ibanda district Khadi. He, however, used the occasion to caution religious institutions not always to treat Presidential donations as mandatory. "When resources permit, I make some donations to the different religious leaders but don't turn them into debts. In the future when resources are available, we could plan and budget for religious institutions but not now", he said.

The Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje, congratulated the newly installed district Khadi of Ibanda. He told the new Kadhi that leading God's people called for trustworthiness, a trait that he noted was scarce in humanity. He said that as a shepherd of God's people the new Kadhi will account for his action to God. He commended the President and NRM government for preaching religious tolerance and bringing about peace and harmony in the country which, he added, had enabled the country to develop.

ENDS

     

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