Muslim fraternity in Uganda applauds President Museveni for hosting Iranian Leader

The Muslim Fraternity, led by the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, has commended President Yoweri Museveni for facilitating the visit of Iran’s leader, H.E Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, to the Muslim community.

Mubajje expressed gratitude to President Museveni for granting them the opportunity to be part of the official visit, and he prayed for the President’s guidance and continued prosperity.

“We express our special gratitude to His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for giving us that profound opportunity to be a part of the programme of your official visit, May Allah guide him and lead him to other levels of prosperity,” he said. 

Mubajje also expressed hope that the visit would foster cooperation and bring about great opportunities between Uganda and Iran. He emphasized the unity of Muslims and their collaboration with other faith groups through the Inter-Religious Council to promote peace in the country.

He added: “We pray that your visit will go on a long way in bringing great opportunities and cooperation between our countries. As Muslims, we are moving together with our faith counterparts as one body through the Inter-Religious Council to ensure peace in the country”. 

These remarks were made during President Museveni’s tour of Gaddafi Mosque in Old Kampala.

Mubajje further appreciated the President for the timely reconciliation between the Ugandan government and Saudi Arabia, two Muslim countries.

“We hail the reconciliation that was reached recently between your government and the people of Saudi Arabia, the two Muslim countries, we pray that the peace initiative should be extended and promoted to other Muslim countries still in armed conflicts such as Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Sudan among others,” Mubajje noted.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, also expressed gratitude to President Museveni for fostering an environment conducive to intercultural dialogue and strengthening the Inter-Religious Council over the years.

He highlighted the positive impact of this partnership in addressing issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS, expressing confidence in its continuous growth with the Iranian government’s involvement.

“Since the establishment of IRC in 2001, there has been growing trust, harmony and integration where several interventions have been possible in converting Poverty, HIV/AIDS, and others. We are therefore confident that this partnership with the Iranian government, there shall be continuous growth,” he added. 

During his visit, President Raisi visited the Al-Mustafa Islamic College in Kyengera, where he met with a group of Muslims and participated in prayers. He also made a stop at Aidan-Uganda Agricultural Park on Nakirebe-Masaka road, where he planted a tree as a symbolic solution to climate change and biodiversity loss.

After a one-day visit, President Raisi was seen off at Entebbe Airport by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Okello Oryem, and he is expected to continue his travels with a visit to Zimbabwe.