Gulu muslims hand over former cemetery for Sh5 billion shopping mall project

29 August 2025, 2:48 pm

By Okello Gift

The Muslim community in Gulu has officially handed over its former burial ground to GASMART Investment Ltd for the development of a commercial shopping mall valued at five billion Ugandan shillings.

The land, located near Stanbic Bank and the Gulu Main Bus Park, had long been earmarked for redevelopment by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). The handover comes amid ongoing efforts to relocate graves from the site.

So far, 313 of the estimated 580 bodies have been exhumed and reburied at a new cemetery in Lawiyeadul. According to Sheikh Imam Omona of Gulu Main Mosque, 273 bodies remain at the original site but will be relocated in phases as construction progresses.

“We started the process with guidance from religious and cultural leaders,” said Sheikh Omona. “Any graves discovered during construction will be respectfully relocated to Lawiyeadul.”

Despite the pending exhumations, GASMART Investment Ltd has confirmed that construction will begin in one month. The company’s director, Mohamud Jama, stated that the project is expected to take two years to complete.

“This development is not just about business—it will transform the city and create jobs and opportunities,” Jama said.

While the project has been welcomed by many as a boost to the local economy, concerns remain over the incomplete exhumations. Religious leaders have assured that all remains will be treated with dignity, while construction and relocation teams continue to work closely with the community to ensure respect and transparency throughout the process.

The shopping mall forms part of a broader initiative by the UMSC to redevelop underutilised land for income-generating ventures that benefit the wider Muslim community.