Museveni commends Muslim community for accepting PDM money

Entebbe, (UG):– President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the Muslim community for embracing the Parish Development Model (PDM), dispelling past concerns that the initiative contained elements of riba (interest).

Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted on Tuesday, March 25, at State House Entebbe, Museveni expressed his satisfaction that the misconceptions surrounding the program had been resolved.

“I’m glad that you finally accepted my PDM money because some people had misinterpreted it, saying it has riba (interest). I am not profiteering from you. The government of Uganda is like our grandparent, and this grandparent gives you money every year per parish. This money is yours; it’s not going back to the government, so that’s not profiteering,” Museveni explained.

He further clarified that the five percent charge on the UGX 1 million disbursed annually was meant to maintain the money’s purchasing power rather than generate profit.

The President also took the opportunity to congratulate the Muslim community for successfully fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. “We are left with only a few days for Ramadan to end. We pray that God keeps us safe until the end,” he remarked.

Beyond religious observance, Museveni urged believers to balance their devotion with economic productivity, calling on religious leaders to guide their congregations towards financial empowerment. “You, the religious leaders, should help your people develop the thinking of worshipping and working as well,” he said.

Call for Religious Unity

Museveni applauded the Muslim community for heeding the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) message of unity and warned against sectarianism. “The world is in chaos because of misinterpreting religion. I have never read anywhere that God commanded Catholics and Protestants to fight Muslims or vice versa,” he noted.

He praised the diverse representation of Islamic sects at the event, saying, “The way you have been introducing yourselves—Sunnis, Shia, Ahmadiyas—all here, I think that’s very good. That’s the spirit of God.”

He also cautioned against interference in religious freedoms, emphasizing, “Why do you interfere in the freedom of worship? Let them worship as long as they don’t break the law.”

Government Support to the Muslim Community

In support of agricultural development, President Museveni donated 10 tractors to the 10 Muslim regions in Uganda, reinforcing the government’s commitment to economic empowerment across religious groups.

Vice President Jessica Alupo lauded Museveni’s leadership, emphasizing that Uganda remains a country where all religious denominations enjoy maximum freedom of worship. “Freedom of worship in Uganda is Constitutional, and all this is due to your strategic and visionary leadership and the NRM’s good practice of non-discrimination,” Alupo said.

Representing the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje, First Deputy Mufti Sheikh Waiswa Muhammad Ali thanked the President for consistently hosting the Muslim community for Iftar and for championing initiatives that foster unity, patriotism, and socio-economic transformation. “We do not take this for granted,” Sheikh Waiswa said.

The annual State Iftar dinner continues to serve as a platform for strengthening relations between the government and the Muslim community, as well as addressing key socio-economic concerns affecting the faithful.