His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda has paid tribute to the Directorate of Industrial Training- DIT under the leadership of Mr. Patrick Byakatonda, for agreeing to partner with Uganda Muslim Supreme-UMSC.
This was part of Sheikh Mubaje’s remarks at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding- MOU between DIT and UMSC in the Principal’s Office at the UMSC based Islamic Call University College in Old Kampala on March 21st, 2022.
Sheikh Mubaje’s speech was based on the quotation from Holy Glorious Quran stating that “Oh you who believe, work soon your Glorious Lord will take note, His Prophet and fellow believers.”
He noted that “from time immemorial, the Almighty God gave man instincts that he enhances through skills in order to survive.”
Sheikh Mubaje explained that even God’s Prophets depended on skills as their source of live-holds.
He cited the examples of Prophets like Adam, the father of humanity who was a farmer, David ( David) a blacksmith who specialized in making shields, spears, and other weapons, Nuhu ( Noah), a carpenter, Edris ( Enock), a tailor while Musa ( Moses) and Muhammad peace be upon all of them were shepherds.
“Prophet Muhammad later went on to become a top manager in charge of the business Enterprise of lady Khadijah, a wealthy businesswoman of Makkah before he was commissioned to be Almighty Allah’s Messenger.“
“So life skills are very important for the growth of communities,” Sheikh Mubaje said.
He also disclosed that he has personally done his best in implementing various Gov’t Community transformation initiatives such as fish, maize, and rice farming, planting oil palm trees, all at a large scale.
“Unfortunately I am lacking a market for my products,” Sheikh Mubaje said
He used the same occasion to thank President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for designing developmental programs including health interventions meant to protect the population.
In conclusion of his remarks shortly before signing the MOU, Mufti Mubaje described the partnership as a commitment that has been followed by both sides since it aims at mindset change, value addition, and instilling life skills urgently needed by the youths. He promised to see to it that the MOU is embraced and implemented through UMSC structures up to village Mosques throughout the Country.
Earlier on Hon. Ramathan Mugalu, the UMSC Secretary-General described the MOU as the driving force that will transform the majority of Muslim youths from the informal sector to another level through formalizing their life skills purposely to boost their incomes.
“Even UMSC is now airing DIT programs on its various media platforms including Radio Bilal, GTV, Official FaceBook, and we ready to trickle it down through the administrative Muslim regions, 78 Muslim Districts as our major focal points” Haj Mugalu observed.
On his part, the head of DIT, Mr. Byakatonda, disclosed that DIT recognizes skills with added values.
“So, there are no entry requirements we only assess someone’s ability to exhibit the acquired skills and thereafter categorize them in different levels of certifications that are fully recognized by the Ministry of Education & Sports for labor export.
He also revealed that they have also opened new areas in lower Secondary Schools in performing arts and sports.
Other guest speakers who welcomed the partnership included Dr. Sheikh Ebraheem Ssali, the Principal of Islamic Call University College- ICUC, Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu UMSC Education Secretary, and Maj. Abdu Mutwalib Ssenyonga from Operation Wealth Creation- OWC.
In attendance were Mr. Kambugu Omar Nurdeen, the Head of Muslim Projects / DIT Contact Person in Rwenzori Sub-region and Dr. Abdallah Edris, the Deputy Principal ICUC and DIT delegation was coordinated by Mr.Mugaya Ashiraf the Assistant Coordinator Worker’s PAS unit and Ms.Akullo Jackie the DIT-PRO Head among others and lastly Mr. Byakatonda had a guided tour of the UMSC Education Vocational Tailoring training Center where he interacted with the trainers and promised to offer them certifications to mark the beginning of the partnership.
Zziwa Ashiraf
UMSC Spokesperson
