Jinja, (UG):- The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has asked the minister for lands in Uganda to intervene in the disputed 4.5 acres of land involving the Jinja regional referral hospital and the Muslim council.
The development comes after the hospital reportedly fenced all entrances, parking yard and easement to Jinja Limbo.
In a letter dated October 23, 2024, signed by the Chairman UMSC Al-hajj Prof Muhamadi Lubega Kisambira, the Muslims seek a legitimate plea for entrance and easement to the Jinja city Limbo with intervention from the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Hon Judith Nabakooba.
The said land was ultimately handed over to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital by the Uganda Land Commission; something the Muslim council says it cannot argue since it was a legal decision but seeks intervention to ensure that all Muslims in Jinja are treated with humility, either dead or alive.
“The current development is that Jinja Referral Hospital fenced off all the entrances, parking yard and easement to the Jinja Limbo. Muslims are now using makeshift ladders to climb over the Limbo wall with their dead to access the Limbo for the burial of their loved ones. Am certain that you or your team have seen many videos on social media over this appalling situation,” the letter, a copy of which DailyExpress has seen, reads in part.
Currently, the Muslims are struggling to bury their loved ones and they have resorted to makeshift ladders to climb over the Limbo wall with their dead to access the Limbo for burial of their loved ones. A number of videos about the same have gone viral on social media, causing the public to call for action over this appalling situation.
Dr. Lubega says the situation is humiliating, unrealistic, dehumanizing and morally unacceptable in a society like this one, citing that Muslims like other Ugandans deserve a better way to be buried or bury their loved ones. He observed the situation as alarming and asked the Minister for a round table meeting of stakeholders for a quick amicable and long-lasting solution to this problem.
“In light of the above, I wish to request you to use your good office, together with the Ministry of Health, the office of the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs to find space and intervene. Personally, I still believe we can have a win-win situation; the Hospital retains like three acres of land and the Muslims 1.5 acres for the entrance, easement to the Limbo,” the letter adds.
Dr. Lubega urged the entire Muslim community to remain calm saying, “In the meantime, I also call upon all Muslims in Jinja to remain calm as we try to diplomatically resolve this issue.”
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