The Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has been honoured by Muslim leaders in Wakiso District for her dedicated support toward women’s empowerment, vulnerable communities, and grassroots livelihoods.
Namyalo received the special appreciation award from the Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje, during a Dua prayer and graduation ceremony for Imams and Amirahs at the Namasuba Institute of Technical and Vocational Studies.
Wakiso District Khadi, Sheikh Erias Kigozi, described Namyalo as a “mother to the poor,” commending her relentless commitment to defending the interests of the common person.
Sheikh Kigozi described Namyalo as a mother to the poor, praising her commitment to reaching people at the grassroots and supporting initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods. He said her engagement with vulnerable groups demonstrated the importance of leaders remaining connected to the communities they serve.
“ Hajjat Namyalo has continued to stand with the common person, particularly the poor and vulnerable members of our communities. Her commitment to the people at the grassroots deserves recognition,” he said.
He also appreciated the government for its contribution to the development of the Muslim community, particularly through initiatives aimed at promoting education, strengthening religious institutions and improving the welfare of citizens.
Mufti Sheikh Mubaje emphasized that unity is power, thanking President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his continuous role in uniting Muslims and driving socio-economic empowerment.
The Mufti urged parents to anchor their children on a strong religious foundation, discipline, and morals to shape a responsible society.
“Parents have a responsibility to raise their children in religion and the fear of God. We must teach them discipline and good morals because these values are important for their future and the development of our society,” Sheikh Mubaje said.
The Mufti urged students and graduands to remain hardworking, disciplined and committed to their studies and professional pursuits, describing these values as essential to individual success and the wider development of communities.
“I encourage the graduands and students to work hard and remain disciplined. Success does not come without effort, and these values are important if we are to develop ourselves and our communities,” he said.
He welcomed continued cooperation between political leaders and religious institutions, saying such partnerships could help identify community needs and strengthen efforts to improve the welfare of Muslims.
“Thank you, my daughter Namyalo, for standing with the people, supporting the Muslim community and continuing to be a voice for the common person,” he said.
Hajjat Namyalo championed practical skills as the ultimate path to self-reliance, urging graduands to utilize their training in catering, welding, and mechanics to create job opportunities.
Namyalo urged the graduands to put their knowledge into practice, serve their communities with integrity and use the skills acquired to explore employment and self-employment opportunities.
“Acquiring skills is an important step towards becoming self-reliant. I encourage you to put what you have learnt into practice, serve your communities and use your knowledge to create opportunities for yourselves and others,” she said.
Alex Bereeta, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Nansana, commended Muslim leaders for promoting practical education as one way of addressing unemployment and improving household incomes.
Bereeta cited catering, soap-making, welding, motor vehicle mechanics and salon services as some of the practical skills that could enable trainees to establish businesses, earn an income and create employment opportunities for others.
“Vocational skills are important because they equip people with the ability to work, create their own employment and become self-reliant,” he said.
Bereeta also praised Namyalo for supporting empowerment initiatives and encouraging programmes that equip people with practical skills. He urged religious leaders to continue using their influence to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and responsible conduct among their followers.
Beyond education, the Muslim leadership appealed for partnerships to establish healthcare facilities near mosques to make medical services accessible to local communities.
Busiro East MP Hon. Emmanuel Magoola Matovu, commended the seamless collaboration between religious institutions and political leadership, pledging to work closely with Namyalo to further empower the community.
