The King of Tooro, Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, has urged young Muslims in Tooro to pursue education, overcome the limitations imposed by their backgrounds and actively participate in the development of their communities.
The king said young people should not allow the circumstances into which they were born to limit their ambitions. Instead, he encouraged them to acquire knowledge, respect their parents and elders, and embrace people of different religious beliefs.
Nyabongo made the remarks on Friday while addressing Muslims at Fort Portal Main Mosque during Juma prayers. He called on young Muslims to take an active role in the development of Tooro Kingdom, saying their participation was essential to advancing education, healthcare, economic growth and cultural preservation.
The king also called for stronger cooperation between the kingdom and the Muslim community, noting that the palace remained open to Muslims and their leaders. He encouraged Muslim leaders to seek support from the kingdom and work with its leadership to advance development initiatives that benefit the wider community.
Tooro Kingdom Acting Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, asked young people to be at the centre of the kingdom’s development agenda. Rwomiire noted that young people should not merely participate in development programmes but should also be involved in designing, implementing and leading them.
He said the kingdom intended to create more opportunities for young people in agriculture, tourism, technology, education, business, sports and culture to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the region’s development.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdul Karim Hakim, the Tooro Muslim District Khadi, who led the prayers, said the Muslim community was willing to cooperate with the kingdom as long as such collaboration upheld Islamic principles.
Sheikh Hakim urged Muslims not to distance themselves from the kingdom, noting that the institution had supported their welfare through education, land allocation and skills development initiatives.
He cited Muslim students benefiting from kingdom bursaries and opportunities at the kingdom’s skilling centre at the Muchwa headquarters. According to Sheikh Hakim, these initiatives demonstrated the potential for closer cooperation between the kingdom and the Muslim community to improve livelihoods.
However, he appealed to the king to consider appointing more Muslims to the kingdom’s cabinet as he forms his administration, saying their representation would strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.
Some Muslim faithful welcomed the king’s decision to join them for prayers, describing his presence as a demonstration of religious inclusion and unity in Tooro.
Jamil Arisingura said he was pleased to see the king praying alongside Muslims, adding that the gesture demonstrated the monarch’s acceptance of people from different religious backgrounds without discrimination.
Jamira Jackline Ngozi said the king’s presence reflected his love for his subjects and his willingness to associate with them regardless of their religious beliefs. She pledged that the Muslim community would work with the king to promote development in Tooro-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
