His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa the 2nd Deputy Mufti has on behalf of the Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje closed a one day meeting for the performance review of faith and community initiative convened by Uganda Muslim Medical Bureau-UMMB, the medical arm of UMSC at SS Hotel Makerere Kikoni in Kampala, Sept 28th 2022.
In his speech, Sheikh Waiswa hailed Dr. Ali Said Karama, the Executive Secretary and entire UMMB Staff for initiating health programs in the Communities.
Sheikh Waiswa particularly singled out best approaches exhibited in the performance report delivered by Mr. Muzamir Kivumbi, the UMMB Monitoring and Evaluation Manager.
“This approach based on research is the way to go if we are to improve service delivery and the management of mosques activities in terms of resource mobilization, and accountability because of it’s efficiency,” Sheikh Waiswa remarked
Responding to the findings that showed that the Imams selected to supervise the project implementation had generally abandoned their roles despite the fact that they were vibrant at the beginning, Sheikh Waiswa explained that most of the Imams are over burdened with alot of issues brought by Individual Muslims including those that need financial support.
“Majority of Imams, County Sheikhs, even some District Kadhis live on handouts since they don’t get salaries and allowances. But you still find their followers pestering them for money yet they generally volunteer to serve Islam. So volunteering is very challenging and the issues raised in the report are very critical,” Sheikh Waiswa observed.
Sheikh Waiswa highlighted several ways that can be used to scale up and motivate Imams and County Sheikhs involved in the program implementation such recognising them with certificate of appreciation signed both by the Mufti and UMMB and rewarding those outstanding with bicycles or motorcycles.
On the prevalence of HIV/ Aids in the Communities, Sheikh Waiswa noted with concern the high rate especially among the youths and couples in distant marriages, which results from poverty and unemployment.
Sheikh Waiswa encouraged Imams to help the youth in finding suitable spouses, carry out pre- marital counselling for those couples going into marriage and continuous counseling among married couples. He also advised imams to up date themselves with the current trends so as to ably guide Muslims under their care.
Earlier on Dr. Ali Said Karama thanked participants who turned up for the meeting. He also revealed plans to extend the project to other areas according to the CDC Mubende region that covers Lwengo, Bukomasimbi, Mityana and Luwero districts.
Dr. Karama encouraged Muslim leaders to mobilize the community to establish more health facilities and respond to issues raised by the Health Ministry as a precondition for supporting the facilities such as providing sufficient land, approved structures and Management Systems.
In attendance were Sheikh Imran Ssali, the incharge of Dawah-Islamic propagation, Sheikhat Radhiyaah Namakula Lukwiya, the Secretary for Women & Youths, Sheikh Juma Mawejje Kabanda the West Buganda Regional Assistant to the Mufti, Sheikh Mustafa Khamis Lule, the East Buganda Regional Assistant to the Mufti, District Kadhis for Makindye, Wakiso, Masaka, Greater Mpigi, and Lyatonde
