New Vision readers build Mosque for Luuka Muslims

RELIGION   

KAMPALA - In November 2017, New Vision published a story in which Muslims from Mukapala village in Luuka district were seeking over sh20m for the construction of their stalled mosque.

They used to conduct prayers in the uncompleted stalled Mosque and on Fridays many of them could miss prayers due to rain, as prayers were conducted in an open space.

The story attracted a number of donors who willingly contributed to the construction of their mosque.

Sheikh Ali Ssempa, the Imam Zanabu Masjid mosque Bukapala preaching after Asr prayers

On Thursday, the visibly excited Sheikh Ali Ssempa commended the New Vision newspaper for spearheading community-based initiatives that have greatly impacted on various communities.

 "I want to thank the New Vision because if it did not run that article, we would still be struggling to raise the money," Ssempa said.

According to Ssempa, it took only two weeks after the publication for the good Samaritans to come out.

He revealed that their grass-thatched mosque was destroyed by a downpour in 2014 but they could not afford to construct a new one.

"We have nothing to offer to New Vision but I implore Muslims to buy the New Vision newspaper, particularly on Friday as part of contribution for the tremendous work it did for us," Ssempa said.

Left to right: The Imam of Bukapala Masjid Zainabu Sheikh Ali Ssempa and chairman of the Mosque, sheikh Swaibu Waiswa showing the documents of the Mosque during interviews with the New Vision recently

 
Sheikh Swaibu Waiswa, the chairperson of the mosque said they are grateful because they will no longer conduct prayers in an open space.

"Some Muslims used to move 6km to the neighboring mosques for prayers for fear of the rain but with the completion of the mosque, the number has tremendously increased,'" Waiswa noted.

Businessman Umaru Mutyaba, an ardent reader of the New Vision is among the Muslims who greatly contributed to the construction of the Mosque.

"The district Muslim management presented to me three mosques that needed to be constructed but our focus was on Bukapala village because we had all the details of the village, names of the Imam and chairman since it had featured in the New Vision," Mutyaba said.

 
Without disclosing the actual money spent on the construction of the mosque, Mutyaba applauded the New Vision for pioneering community-based stories.

"If it was not your article, we would not have known that these people needed help to praise their God comfortably," Mutyaba said.

The Imam revealed that they are now planning to construct a religious-based nursery school in the area.