Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Ugandan President Museveni intervenes in city mosque sale



THE Government will pay city businessman Drake Lubega for the Muslim land he acquired on William Street, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

"I understand that the William Street mosque is on land owned by Drake Lubega who bought that piece of land. I will use my authority and we pay back the money of the person who bought the land so that he leaves the land for the Muslims to use for their work. This is one way of helping them resolve this issue," he said.

Museveni made the disclosure yesterday to thousands of supporters at Police Grounds in Mpigi town council.

Lubega who bought the piece of land. I will use my authority and pay back the money of the person who bought the land so that he leaves the land for the Muslims to use for their work. This is one way of helping them resolve this issue," he said.

Museveni made the remarks yesterday while addressing thousands of supporters at Police Grounds in Mpigi town council, Mpigi district.

Lubega, who bought the controversial property on Plot 30 on William Street, had expressed interest to sell it back to the Muslims.
Lubega said he paid $2m (about 3.2b) for the plot allegedly sold by the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje.
Mubajje and city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba were dragged to court over the matter, but were later acquitted.

Museveni, who is campaigning for re-election, criticised what he described as self-seekers who claimed that his government wants to remove the Kabaka of Buganda.

" The cultural leaders were brought back by the Movement government. Those who claim they love the Kabaka more are elderly people. When we were fighting in the bush, why didn't they join us? How long was the Kabaka in exile? If we had not fought, how would the Kabaka have come back? These self-seekers are the real enemies of Buganda, those who want to use the Kabaka in politics," the President said.
The President explained that the cultural leaders Bill currently before Parliament only seeks to bar traditional leaders from politics.

"Politics is about hatred, jealous, etc. We do not want politicians to go into cultural issues and vice-versa. Me who returned the Kabaka, have you ever heard me use the Kabaka's name? Why don't they stand on their own feet?" he asked.

On claims that Museveni wants to steal land, the President challenged those who say he has stolen land to show him the land he grabbed.

"I have been in power for 25 years. Show me one acre of land I have stolen. Land issues are no longer in local governments, but at the districts and the land board. If anybody wants to steal it, that person is at the district."

He urged the people of Mpigi to vote the wise man with a hat and all the NRM flagbearers, saying the party has the capacity to manage the affairs of Uganda.


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