Muslims Petition Museveni to Access Jinja Cemetery

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Muslim community in Jinja City, Uganda, is appealing to President Yoweri Museveni to help resolve a land dispute that has restricted their access to a cemetery they have used for nearly a century. This conflict arose after the Ministry of Health erected a perimeter wall around the cemetery near Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH), effectively blocking access.

Abubaker Maganda Timuntu, chairperson of the Forum of Democratic Change (FDC) in Jinja City, addressed the issue in a formal petition to the President. “The Ministry of Health has denied Muslims access to the cemetery by erecting a strong perimeter wall. This cemetery has been essential for Muslims, especially those from distant regions like West Nile and Acholi, who cannot afford transport to their home areas,” the letter stated.

In his appeal, Mr. Maganda suggested that the government allocate part of the 100 acres held by the National Forest Authority in Kimaka to serve as an alternative cemetery site. “My humble appeal to the President is to direct the concerned authorities to allocate us 10 acres of NFA land in Kimaka,” he added.

The cemetery, located on Plots 31-39 Nile Avenue in Jinja City’s Southern Division, has been managed by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) since its establishment in 1932. However, Jinja hospital claims the land belongs to the Uganda Land Commission (ULC), which granted the hospital permission to use it. In April, the ULC ruled that the cemetery land belonged to the Commission and subsequently allocated it to Jinja hospital, a decision reinforced by a boundary wall constructed by the Engineering Brigade of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

In response, Dr. Alfred Yayi, Jinja hospital director, noted that UMSC was advised to make a formal request for cemetery access, though no request has yet been filed.

The dispute has impacted local families who have long relied on the cemetery. One resident, Mr. Habibu Muhammad, described how his family had to use temporary ladders to access the burial site after his aunt’s passing, as they could no longer reach the cemetery due to the wall.

Historically, the land ownership issue has been contentious. Although a 2022 court ruling by Justice Michael Elubu granted the land to the Uganda Land Commission, a subsequent visit by State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja in March of this year recognized the Muslims’ historical claim to the site. However, the matter remains unresolved, with local community members seeking intervention to restore their cemetery access.

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