Muslims in Mbale City are still looking for over shillings 1billion to complete works on the Nakaloke mosque.
In 2019, the Muslims launched a campaign to raise shillings 3 billion to construct a mosque, one of the biggest in the region. Construction started in 2019 but works stalled after the Muslims failed to raise the required money to complete the project which was expected to be complete within a space of one and half years.
According to the project managers, the project had stalled for the two years of covid because no fundraising was taking place due to the covid19 restrictions. Construction has now resumed.
Muhamad Mbogo, the treasurer construction committee says that the account has only shillings 50million right now yet the project still has a long way to get complete.
Mbogo says that since the start of the project in 2019, over shillings 1billion have so far been injected into the project leaving a deficit of over 1billion shillings.
Musa Ssenyonga the chairperson Construction Committee says that due to the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic in the country the project stalled for two years.
He notes that although the project sum was supposed to be 3billion shillings, the increasing prices of commodities in the country are likely to affect the project sum noting it is likely to take more than 3 billion.
According to him, the main funders of the project are Muslims both locally and nationally who are contributing towards its construction and that they have tried to approach companies like Airtel, Riham, and Embassies to help in vein.
Amis Kenedi, the engineer says that the mosque project is now a quarter way adding the slow pace at which materials arrive has made it difficult for them to complete the project on time.
Salim Faris Hassan Balamazi, the imam says that before the covid-19 lockdown, they mobilized over 5 million shillings but they are only able to raise shillings 800,000 every month.
He reminded President Yoweri Museveni who pledged to contribute 400million shillings during the previous campaigns but only paid 150million to fulfill his pledge and pay the balance of 250million
The kadh Says that the only plan they have for these mosques now is to call upon Muslims and the well-wishers to come and contribute towards the construction and use it rightly for the contributors to get the urge to give in more as they wait for donors.
He adds that if one contributes towards the construction of a mosque, is building their own house in paradise.
