BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOOD LUCK)
Hon. Godfrey Atkins Katusabe, the Bukonzo County West Member of Parliament in Kasese district has appealed to the Muslim community to form SACCOs based on Islamic Principles as one way of benefiting from government’s funds.
Last week, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched Salaam Bank, Uganda’s first ever licensed Islamic Banking Institution based on Islamic Principles. In Islamic Banking, there is no paying and receiving of interest but rather it is based on profit sharing.
Speaking to our reporter shortly after the Easter Mass at Kasanga Roman Catholic Church, Hon Katusabe said Muslims in his constituency should utilize such an opportunity to benefit from the sitting government.
He, however, observed need for his constituents to use the funds given to them by government through her already established programs including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood and Uganda Women Empowerment Programme (UWEP) well.
In her remarks to the congregation, Ms Hellen Petronilla Masika, the Deputy Executive Director at the Microfinance Support Centre MSC) Uganda revealed that the Government of Uganda had secured billions of shillings from the Islamic Development Bank to support women through their SACCOs.
She categorically put it clear that money from the Islamic Development Bank would benefit all the women across the country regardless of their religion, region, tribe and political affiliations.
Rev. Fr. Remegio Thembo, the Curate at Kasanga Roman Catholic Parish who led the Mass hailed the Uganda Microfinance Support Centre for its continued support to the people in the district and the entire Rwenzori sub-region. ENDS