Mubajje hails Museveni on wealth creation

The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, has commended President Yoweri Museveni for coming up with the programme of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

"There is great potential for wealth creation through proper utilisation of our administrative structures and the Muslim land. We have a lot of idle land that can be used for tree planting, animal rearing, poultry and cultivation" the Mufti said.

Mubajje said this while meeting a delegation of OWC officials in his office at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Old Kampala.

OWC was established by President Museveni in July 2013 to create a system that facilitates effective national social-economic transformation with the focus of raising household incomes to eradicate poverty and sustainable wealth creation.

OWC was born from the ashes of Naads, which was established in 2002.

The delegation, according to the statement issued by UMSC spokesperson, Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, on Wednesday, was led by the deputy OWC coordinator OWC Maj. Gen. Julius Oketta.  Oketta's group was sent by OWC chairman Gen. Salim Saleh.

"Development, peace, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness can be achieved sustainably if people have a source of income and hence a habit of saving and ability to invest in development projects" the Mufti stressed.

Oketta applauded the Mufti for his continued advocacy for unity and development.

"We are grateful that the Mufti is looking towards the development of the youth, something that is in line with the President's goal of an income of sh20m-23m per year per household," Oketta said.

He advised the Mufti to form a committee that will sit and decide on the enterprises that are suitable for UMSC.

"We have enterprises like poultry, fruits, fishing, animals etc. We also have equipment for those who want to do value addition," Gen. Oketta told Mubajje.

He noted that once everything is finalised, the beneficiaries will be trained in their respective areas of enterprise.