By Kenneth Wamatoyi
JINJA
Ministers have resolved to allocate half an acre of hospital land to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council in Jinja City for parking and access to the Muslim cemetery.
This decision was made on October 28, 2024, during a meeting held in the City Hall chambers, attended by Ministers Jane Ruth Aceng (Health) and Judith Nabakoba (Lands and Urban Development), along with representatives from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the hospital board. The land in question is located on plots 31-39 Nile Avenue in Jinja Southern Division.
During the meeting, Minister Judith Nabakoba announced that half an acre would be given to the council to facilitate access to their cemetery and parking. She stated that formal consent from both parties would be signed, and that surveyors and physical planners would be deployed immediately to plan and survey the land. She advised that legal disputes should be set aside, with no compensations to be made to either party.
Minister Nabakoba further indicated that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council should seek 10 acres of land, as their current cemetery is full. She mentioned that once they identify land within Jinja City, the president would assist in purchasing it, as a larger space is required. She emphasized that the remaining land would be reserved for hospital development, with plans already in place for a regional cancer institute, a blood bank, and a heart institute.
According to Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, the land in question originally belonged to the Land Commission and was later allocated to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. She confirmed that the half-acre granted to the Muslim community is now designated solely for passage and parking. The access road provided is in a triangular format along Clive Road. She dismissed allegations regarding other individuals claiming plots within this land, stating that the ministry would address and resolve these issues.
According to Deputy Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya, they have agreed to accept part of the land allocated to them and urged the community to follow the advice and remain calm in order to promote harmony and unity between the hospital and the Muslim fraternity in the region. He expressed gratitude to the ministers for taking the time to hear their concerns.
However, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kisambira, the National Chairman of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), stated that their grievances have now been addressed. He mentioned that they would seek the 10 acres of land as directed by the minister, which is to be purchased by the president for the cemetery. He called upon the Muslim community to avoid rioting and to adhere to the guidelines for the development of both the community and the hospital.
The 4.5 acres of land in question has been a source of conflict between the Muslims and the hospital since 1932. This burial site holds deep cultural, emotional, and religious significance for the community.
Source link
