Muslims asked to develop Mosque land to ward off speculaters

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Muslim leaders in Luwero District have been urged to develop land at their mosques to prevent encroachment and illegal sales. Numerous mosques in the district are entangled in land disputes, with land being encroached upon, grabbed, and sold illegally by some leaders.

One notable case involves Nalweweta Mosque, where 10 acres donated to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) for mosque construction and other development activities have been targeted for sale by individuals. Similarly, Bukalasa Mosque in Wobulenzi town is facing issues, with 40 acres being parceled out for sale by some mosque leaders.

In response, Luwero District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa has warned the public against purchasing land from mosques, stating that any such transactions are illegal. He emphasized that mosque leadership committees do not have the authority to sell the land and that individuals engaging in these activities will face legal action.
Sheikh Mulindwa highlighted that some leaders claim to be selling parts of the land to acquire titles but do so without consulting the UMSC. Others are simply acting out of self-interest. He advised mosque leadership to develop the land through projects such as cattle farming, and tree and cash crop cultivation.

Robert Ssekitoleeko, the Bamunanika County Member of Parliament, pointed out that idle land at mosques is prone to being targeted by grabbers and encroachers. He revealed that some individuals within families are also reclaiming land donated to mosques by their deceased relatives, which can be mitigated by developing and titling the land.

Ssekitoleeko pledged to support mosques in his constituency with income-generating projects to protect the land from grabbers. On Friday, he handed over 100 iron sheets to aid in the roofing of a commercial building at Degeya Mosque in Kalagala Sub County.

Edirisa Kakembo, the Imam of Degeya Mosque, welcomed MP Ssekitoleeko’s support, noting that the project will not only protect their land from grabbers but also generate income, reducing dependence on daily collections.

Luwero District is notorious for land grabbing. The 2023 annual crime police report indicated that Luwero had the highest number of criminal trespass cases in the country, with 192 cases. The district also ranked second for cases of malicious property damage, mostly related to land conflicts, with 146 cases.

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