Ref: AF/PR/2023/019 Date: December 05, 2023
The Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Kampala held the inauguration ceremony for its commercial project named “The Mall” on Thursday 28th September 2023 which coincided with the various programs with the visit of the Ex Ugandan-Community members as well as participants of the 86th Supreme Council Session of the Africa Federation.
The Program was attended by the Mayor of the City of Kampala Mr. Salim Saad Uhuru who joined various dignitaries and invitees from around the globe, notably present were the Africa Federation Chairman Alhaj Amine Nassor, the World Federation President Alhaj Safdar Jaffer, AFED Vice Chairmen Alhaj Aunali Khalfan, AFED Vice Chairman from Madagascar and Chairman of AKSIAM Alhaj Feride Ismael, AFED Trustee Alhaj Shabir Najafi, the World Federation Secretary General Arifali Hirji, Council of European Jamaats (COEJ) Chairman Alhaj Salim Remtullah, Chairmen of various Jamaats and AFED Boards who were joined by the Kampala Jamaat Managing Committee, Trustees; Invitees and members of the Community.
The Ceremony commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by the resident Aalim of Kampala Jamaat Maulana Syed Ali Abbas Rizvi which was then followed by the unveiling of the Plaque to mark the Opening of “The Mall” by the AFED Chairman who was joined by Mayor of Kampala Hon. Salim Uhuru.
Alhaj Sibtain bhai Merchant, Chairman of Kampala Jamaat addressed the gathering wherein he presented a brief history of The Mall.
The building which is located on Plot 6 Wilson Road is a seven-story building including basement for parking. The ground to sixth floor comprises of shops and an open terrace for other facilities.
This plot was bought in 1919 by Marhum Khimji Bhanji, the first Chairman of Kampala Jamaat and served as the first Imambargha for Kampala Jamaat. The community made a tented structure where they held religious functions along with a Baitul Salaah. In 1940 as the community grew, the community built a permanent Imambargha on the plot.
In the late 1950s the community in Kampala had reached its peak and hence a new Jamaat Complex was put up on Plot 108 William Street comprising of a Masjid, Imambargha, School and other community requirements which continues to serve its purpose till this day.
In the 1960s once the New Complex was ready, part of the premises at Plot No 6 Wilson Road was given out for rent. The property was turned into a full commercial project after the exodus in 1972 where all Jamaat properties were nationalized.
Twenty years later in 1992, through the tireless efforts of Dr Mumtaz Kassam, Alhaj Shabir Najafi, Dr Asgar Moledina, Murabbi Mohammed Hussain Punjani, Alhaj Shiraz P Walji, Marhum Pyarali Khimji along with many others the Jamaat properties were repossessed, this particular one needed extra effort due to it being an income generating one.
During the tenure of the Chairmanship of Alhaj Shabir Najafi in 1996, this property was renovated into Kampala’s first mall through the assistance of soft loan from Murabbi Mohammed Manji and became the highest income generating property for Kampala Jamaat during that time.
In 1998, during the tenure of Murabbi Mustafa Kanji the mall caught fire and hence was renovated again; planning and preparations of converting this property into multi story structure began during the Chairmanship of Alhaj Imran Sheriff (2014 -2023) and the current team headed by the Chairman Alhaj Sibtain Merchant executed the plan. This new building is anticipated to multiply the income of the Jamaat to more than 10 times compared to what the Jamaat was getting previously.
The Mayor Mr. Salim Uhuru in his address was appreciative of being part of this occasion and congratulated Kampala Jamaat for putting up a magnificent well-built structure and assured the members of his support whenever the need arose.
AFED Chairman Amine bhai Nassor commended Kampala Jamaat for the completion of this project and said this was a testimony of the foresight and unity that the various leadership of Kampala have had, results of which the current and future generation of the Community shall reap. He added that this success is despite the Jamaat having gone through the exodus era when everything was taken away, yet the community came back and reclaimed for what belonged to the Jamaat and continued to work towards bringing progress, the good leadership with a strong vision and confidence has today resulted in us witnessing the opening of this building. He said he was proud to once again confer Kampala Jamaat as the golden Jamaat in Africa.
Amine bhai said it was his desire to see other Jamaats in Africa emulate Kampala Jamaat and put up such projects which go a long way to make the Jamaats financially strong and create a strong foundation for the future.
He recorded appreciation to the Mayor of Kampala for all the assistance provided towards this project and prayed for the prosperity of the city.
Alhaj Akil Hirji, Chairman of Housing Board elaborated that this was a mega investment project under taken by Kampala Jamaat and applauded the work done in particular by the Chairman of Kampala Jamaat Alhaj Sibtain bhai Merchant and his team and the Board of Trustees. He said Kampala Jamaat has indeed achieved a milestone for the community and this investment will make a positive impact to the members. Akil bhai commended the contractor for the quality of construction work and in completing the project on timely manner.
Akil bhai said due to the hard-economic times, it is extremely important for Jamaats to have investment projects as relying on donations only is not sufficient in the current situation especially when the needs are increasing for the Jamaats. The Kampala Jamaat is a role model for other jamaats in Africa to follow. He added that Africa Federation will work hand in hand with the Jamaat to tap the opportunities which exists in Uganda. He reminded that Kampala Jamaat was the first Jamaat to start the rent to own scheme which was later rolled out in other Jamaats in East Africa and Madagascar under the Chairmanship of Alhaj Shabir Najafi.
He said with the vibrancy of our community, sincerity and good leadership, it is possible to take care of the education, medical and housing needs of the members we shall be a progressive community and decrease family’s dependency on welfare.
Appreciation awards by Kampala Jamaat were presented to the following:
- Mr. Edgar Muhairwe of Prim Features Ltd – the Architect and Project Manager.
- Mr. Dharmesh Patel of Krishna Construction Co. Ltd – the contractor of the project.
- Mr. Afzal Bhimani of Royal Africa Ltd for suppling all the sanitary items & tiles.
- Mr. Adeel Amir of Tronics Uganda Ltd for supplying all the electrical items for the entire building.
- Crown Berger Ltd for supplying all the paints both interior and exterior of the building.
- Shree Enterprises Ltd for supplying all the partitions and fittings of the building.
Special Awards were presented to the following members who had given all their time and dedication towards the project:
- Chairman Al Haj Sibtain Merchant
- Honorary Secretary Mr. Riyaz Mithani
Alhaj Sibtain bhai Merchant further appreciated the entire Building Committee of Kampala Jamaat for their dedication, time and energy given for the construction of the magnificent property which took approximately two years to complete. Special thanks were accorded to the Kampala Jamaat Trustees, Alhaj Mustafa Kanji, Alhaj Hussein Merchant, Alhaj Murtaza Kassam, Alhaj Haiderali; the Vice Chairman, Alhaj Shabbar Virani and Alhaj Mahmud Bharwani for their honorary services and dedication in the Mall project.
The Function concluded with the recitation of Dua e Faraj led by Maulana Syed Ali Abbas Rizvi and the cutting of a cake to mark the happy occasion and recitation of a Qasida by AFED Chairman, Amine Nassor.
The Mall on Plot 6 Wilson Road Kampala today stands out in comparison its neighboring buildings as an extraordinary structure and provides an impetus to the income generating projects for long term self-sufficiency.
The Africa Federation Secretariat congratulates Kampala Jamaat on the completion of this mega commercial project and prays that the Community is able to have more such projects in various Jamaats.
The Inauguruation Ceremony can be views on the below link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo0bTFiYFPg
Secretariat