The Salaam Muslim Cemetery Project Committee has appealed to Muslims and well-wishers to raise an additional Shs600 million to complete the acquisition and development of a new cemetery that will serve Kampala, Wakiso and neighbouring districts.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala, the project spokesperson, Imam Kyeyune Kasozi, said the initiative was launched on December 12, 2023, in response to the growing shortage of burial space in existing Muslim cemeteries, including those at Nkoowe, Mulago and Kisasi, many of which have either reached or are approaching full capacity.
Kasozi revealed that the committee has so far secured two parcels of land for the project. The first is a 20-acre property in Wobulenzi, which was purchased for Shs460 million and has been fully paid for. The second is a 43.7-acre piece of land in Sanga-Matugga valued at Shs2.324 billion. Of this amount, Shs2 billion has already been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of Shs324 million.
According to the committee, Shs2.44 billion has been mobilised through donations, pledges and contributions from members of the Muslim community, business leaders, mosque congregations and other supporters since the project’s inception. Expenditure currently stands at about Shs2.42 billion, largely spent on land acquisition and related transactions.
Kasozi said the committee undertook an extensive search for suitable land, turning down several properties due to ownership disputes, poor terrain, inadequate road access, unclear documentation and prohibitive costs. He noted that the committee had a responsibility to ensure that public contributions were invested in land that is legally secure and suitable for long-term cemetery use.
He assured contributors that all funds raised have been managed transparently and accountably, with regular financial reports presented to the committee and collections from banks, mosques, donation boxes and other channels consistently reconciled.
The committee intends to use the remaining funds to clear the outstanding land balance, complete legal documentation, secure vacant possession, open access roads, demarcate boundaries, establish parking areas and construct essential facilities such as shelters and prayer spaces.
Kasozi said the estimated Shs600 million required will not only settle the remaining Shs324 million land balance but also finance the initial infrastructure needed before burial operations can commence.
He urged Muslims and other well-wishers to continue supporting the initiative, describing it as a collective obligation and a form of Sadaqah Jariyah whose benefits will extend to future generations.
“The fundraising drive has not stopped. While major progress has been made in acquiring land, further support is still needed to clear the outstanding balance and prepare the cemetery for use,” Kasozi said.
The committee is also strengthening digital donation platforms, including mobile money services, bank transfers and online pledge registration systems, to make contributions easier, safer and more transparent.
English 