OIC TO GRANT SHS3 TRILLION TO UGANDA

President Museveni (R) greets Ambassador Yahya Ssemuddu as Organisation of Islamic Conference Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani looks on at State House, Entebbe, last weekend. PPU PHOTO 

By Farahani Mukisa & AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA

Kampala. Uganda is set to get Shs3 trillion from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as contribution towards rural electrification, construction of hospitals, technical schools and roads. 

The permanent representative to OIC, Dr Yahya Ssemuddu, said since Uganda is a member state of OIC, he would do more lobbying to ensure the country equitably benefits.

“Despite being a member to OIC, Uganda still gets little share of benefits compared to other 56 member states,” Mr Ssemuddu, also Uganda’s ambassador to Gulf States, said last weekend.

He said OIC had initially committed to extend a development grant of $380m (about Shs1.1trillion) from the Islamic Development Bank development fund, a subsidiary of OIC. The ambassador also said IDB intends to reinforce its support to Uganda by providing up to $386m (about Shs1.2 trillion) for road construction and support to vocational education this year.

Mr Ssemuddu said in their lobbying, OIC and Uganda agreed to hit Shs3 trillion target in grants.

Asked whether the funds were not being secured to fund the 2016 elections, Mr Ssemuddu, refuted the reports, saying they are just speculations.

Projects
Some of the benefits Uganda has reaped from its membership to the OIC include the establishment of Islamic University in Uganda, construction of the Masindi-Hoima road and implementation of the National Development Plan.

CREDIT: DAILY MONITOR