Hindu believers in Greater Luweero can now access a place of worship closer to their homes following the opening of a new Hindu temple built on land provided by Victoria Sugar Factory in Luweero District.
The temple is expected to serve Indian and Ugandan Hindus from Luweero and neighbouring districts who previously travelled to Kampala, Gulu and Jinja to access Hindu places of worship.
Thummr Nandlal, the founder of Victoria Sugar Factory, said the temple was established after Indian employees at the factory expressed the need for a nearby facility where they could conduct their daily prayers.
“We have 150 Indian staff. In our country, we are used to praying every morning before work and in the evening, but we lacked a temple nearby. Temples are in Kampala, Gulu and Jinja, and the distance is long, so we decided to construct one on the factory land for us and the community nearby,” Nandlal said.
He said the temple would serve not only factory employees but also other Hindu believers living in surrounding communities.
The Minister of State in charge of the Luweero Triangle, Alice Kaboyo, who presided over the opening ceremony, commended the investors for supporting the establishment of the temple, saying it would help strengthen moral values and promote discipline in the community.
Kaboyo also praised Victoria Sugar Factory for contributing to Luweero’s development through job creation, particularly for young people.
She said the employment opportunities provided by the factory were helping to fight poverty, which she identified as one of the factors contributing to domestic violence in households.
Luweero Resident District Commissioner Mariam Nalubega welcomed the temple, saying it would strengthen unity among members of the Indian community working and living in the area.
“This temple is going to bring together Indians in the area, and we anticipate that it will promote their work relations and unity among them,” Nalubega said.
The opening ceremony attracted local leaders and members of the Hindu community, who welcomed the facility as an important addition to the area’s religious infrastructure.
The temple is expected to provide a convenient place for Hindu believers to practise their faith while fostering closer relationships among workers and residents in Greater Luweero.