Muslim World League gives facelift to Lugo Orphanage school

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The Muslim World League (MWL), an international Islamic non-governmental organisation headquartered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has given a facelift to Luwero district-based Lugo Orphanage Primary School with an administration and classroom block worth millions of Uganda shillings.

Lugo Orphanage is a government-aided primary school that was established in 1986 to cater for the educational needs of the Muslim orphans. However, it has since been opened to all pupils irrespective of their religion.

Investing in the future

Commissioning the building on August 9, 2025, Saudi Arabian ambassador to Uganda, Mohammed Bin Khalil Faroudah, underscored the importance of parents educating their children, equating it with a future investment. The organisation also extended food items to the vulnerable communities in the area.

Dr Abdul Aziz Ahmad Sarhan, the head of international delegates of the Muslim World League, Saudi Ambassodor to Uganda Mohammed Bin Khalil and Dr Rashid Ssemuddu, the Uganda Ambassodor to Sudan at the event. (Photo by Farooq Kasule)

“As families of these children, you have a strong responsibility to support your children. If you pay school fees today, they will support you in the future,” Faroudah said.

Faroudah urged the pupils to study hard if they are to have a brighter future. He implored the school administration to ensure a balance between secular education and Islamic studies.

“I convey warm greetings from the custodians of the two holy mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz al Saud and the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. I thank the MWL for this magnificent project,” Faroudah said.

Faroudah acknowledged the wonderful bilateral relationship that Saudi Arabia enjoys with Uganda, which he said has facilitated development for both countries.

Dr Abdul Aziz Ahmad Sarhan, the head of international delegates of the Muslim World League, commended the Muslim World League office in the country for its commitment to the vision of the organisation.

Be exemplary

Sarhan urged Muslims to be exemplary to others. “I call upon you (muslims) to be exemplary so that other people can appreciate Islam. When you do good, other people will admire Islam,” he said.

Muhamed Gabriel Amumalan, the country director of the organisation, said the commissioned building was meant to create a better education environment for the learners.

“These funds were sent from Saudi Arabia. We urge the school management to ensure that these facilities are well managed,” Amumalan said.

He revealed that the organisation has spent over shillings 200 million in giving a facelift to the school that was in a bad state and that they intend to make it a model school in the district.

Enrolment in hundreds

Headteacher Med Ssenabulya thanked the organisation for its support, which he said has breathed life into the school that was on the verge of total collapse.

“I was posted here in 2018, and the school was on the verge of collapse because it had only 36 pupils, but as I speak now, we have 692 pupils.

I, therefore, thank the Muslim World League for its support that has breathed life into this school. I also thank the government because we have ten teachers that are on its payroll, this being a government-aided school,” Ssenabulya said.

Ssenabulya also thanked higher education state minister John Chrysostom Muyingo for reaching out to the organisation to support the Muslim-founded school.

“Ever since the organisation came on board, we have a fully-fledged library and twelve classroom blocks to which we are grateful because this has enabled the school to earn confidence from the parents,” Ssenabulya said.

In regard to offering the dual curriculum, Ssenabulya said it is a great challenge for them because some parents do not appreciate it.

“Some parents only prefer secular education while others prefer religious education and yet for us we want our learners to take both. This is giving us a hard time,” Ssenabulya said.

Ssenabulya encouraged the parents to embrace the dual curriculum, saying it is what will distinguish their graduates from those from other schools, hence opening wide opportunities for them in the job market.

Uganda’s ambassador to Sudan, Dr Rashid Yahaya Ssemuddu, commended Saudi Arabia for its continuous humanitarian programs in the country.

Citing the war in Sudan, which started as a conflict between the President and the Vice President, Ssemuddu urged Ugandans, especially the youth, to uphold peace in the forthcoming general elections.

Doreen Nabukenya, the Luweero district assistant resident district commissioner, urged the gathering to vote for President Yoweri Museveni in the forthcoming general elections to guarantee peace in the country.

“We thank this organisation for the support that has created a better learning environment for our pupils. However, without peace, this organisation should not be here. I therefore urge you to vote for President Museveni for continued peace,” Nabukenya said.

Luweero district chairman Erasto Kibirango commended the organisation for supporting the school, saying it has supplemented their efforts as a district in the area of education.