Muslims in Kasese District want the government to build secondary schools founded on Islamic principles. There are three secondary schools in the Kasese district that were started by the Muslim community. These are Kasese Muslim Secondary School, Kyarumba Education Centre, and Bwera Vocational Education Centre.
The Muslim leaders note that Kasese does not have government-aided secondary schools, arguing that there is an urgent need for one. They also want the government to open a primary school near the Kinyamaseke Mosque for people who can’t send their kids to school in Bwera or Kasese town.
Kasese District Kadhi Musa Baluku told URN that whenever pupils complete primary school, they have to travel to the central part of the country to seek a Muslim secondary school. He said that the lack of an Islamic school has caused many parents to pull their kids out of school after primary school or spend a lot of money to send their kids to school in faraway places.
Sheikh Saddick Mickdard Ndungo, from Bwera, says many mosques have underutilised land that is available for such developments. He says that even though these schools are based on Islamic ideas, they will teach all children, which will help close the access to education gap, especially in rural areas.
The acting Imam of Kinyamaseke mosque, Sulaiman Moshin Bwamabale, says that more faith-based schools will solve problems in education, especially for parents who can’t afford to send their kids to school in other districts or parts of the country.
Yasin Musinguzi reasons that both circular and religious education are important for the development of children. He adds that while the government has helped many church-founded schools, little attention has been given to those founded by the Muslim community.
Mwesige Moses Musolho, a local leader in Kinyamaseke, agrees that there is a need to support Muslims in their goal of setting up a secondary school for the Muslim community in the area and beyond.
Amina Kugonza from Kikorongo notes that most of the schools founded on Islamic principles are private and unaffordable for most parents. The district Kadhi says that they have started working with non-government organisations to get help building more schools like these in the district.