Uganda, March 7 -- President Museveni has guided that Shs100million annually given to each parish under government's Parish Development Model (PDM) program is free from interests or profits, urging Muslims to use it without fear of contravening the Islamic teachings against Riba.

Responding to complaints by Taqwa Islamic Sacco, President Museveni through a Monday letter noted that PDM funds are not loans to the Parish Saccos but a grant.

The Ugandan leader emphasized that the "small interest" percentage is not meant to profit from the grant but to keep the program afloat amidst inflation challenges.

"In my humble view, there is no Riba [interests] in PDM. Why? This is not a loan by Government to the Parish Sacco, it is a grant [and] on...