Muslim leaders in Wakiso District have honoured Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Manager, for her engagement with religious institutions and support for initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and empowering vulnerable communities.
Namyalo received an appreciation award from the Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje, on behalf of Wakiso District Muslim leaders during a prayer event for candidates and graduands at Namasuba Institute of Technical and Vocational Studies.
The gathering brought together Muslim leaders, students and political representatives to pray for candidates and celebrate the completion of training by graduands, including Imams and Amirahs.
Wakiso District Khadi Sheikh Erias Kigozi commended Namyalo for what he described as her commitment to ordinary people, particularly those facing social and economic challenges.
He praised her engagement with communities at the grassroots and her support for initiatives intended to improve livelihoods, describing her as a leader who remains connected to the concerns of vulnerable people.
Sheikh Kigozi also acknowledged the government’s contribution to the development of the Muslim community, particularly through programmes aimed at promoting education, strengthening religious institutions and improving citizens’ welfare.
In his address, Sheikh Mubaje urged parents to raise children with a strong religious foundation, saying faith, discipline and good morals were important in shaping responsible members of society.
He encouraged students and graduands to remain hardworking and committed to their studies and professional pursuits, noting that these values were essential to personal achievement and community development.
The Mufti also commended Wakiso Muslim leaders for working with political leaders to advance the interests of Muslims in the district.
He called for greater unity among Muslims, saying cooperation was necessary to strengthen religious institutions and improve community welfare.
Sheikh Mubaje further praised Namyalo for her engagement with Muslim leaders and her attention to concerns raised by ordinary people. He also thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for what he described as his contribution to Muslim unity and social and economic empowerment.
Addressing the graduands, Namyalo congratulated them on completing their training and commended Muslim leaders for investing in education and vocational skills development.
She said practical skills could help young people and other community members improve their livelihoods, become economically independent and contribute to national development.
Namyalo urged the graduands to apply the knowledge acquired during their training, serve their communities with integrity and explore opportunities for employment and self-employment.
She also emphasised the importance of discipline, responsibility and good morals in building successful careers and contributing positively to society.
Her message was echoed by Alex Bereeta, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Nansana, who commended Muslim leaders for promoting vocational education as a way of addressing unemployment and improving household incomes.
Bereeta said practical training equips people with skills they can use to establish businesses, earn a living and create employment opportunities for others.
He cited catering, soap-making, welding, motor vehicle mechanics and salon services as examples of skills that could enable trainees to become self-reliant rather than depend entirely on formal employment.
He also praised Namyalo for supporting empowerment initiatives and encouraged religious leaders to continue promoting peaceful coexistence, unity and responsible conduct among their followers.
The Member of Parliament for Busiro East, Hon. Emmanuel Magoola Matovu, also commended Sheikh Mubaje for his leadership and praised Sheikh Elias Lukwago for what he described as his commitment to discipline and development.
Magoola welcomed Namyalo’s engagement with the Muslim community, saying political leaders and religious institutions could work together to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.
He pledged to cooperate with Namyalo and other stakeholders in exploring ways to empower Muslim leaders and support initiatives aimed at improving community welfare.
Beyond education and economic empowerment, Muslim leaders at the gathering called for improved access to healthcare, proposing that health facilities be established near mosques to serve worshippers and surrounding communities.
They said locating healthcare services closer to places of worship could make treatment more accessible, particularly for people who face difficulties travelling long distances to hospitals and other medical facilities.
The proposal added healthcare access to the issues discussed at the gathering, alongside education, vocational training and livelihoods.
The event highlighted calls for continued cooperation between religious institutions, government representatives and community leaders to address local challenges and improve access to essential services.
For the graduands, the ceremony marked the completion of training, while the wider discussions underscored the role of practical skills, community partnerships and social services in supporting household welfare and local development.