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KAMPALA - On Friday, the Judiciary said it has not authorized Sheikh Abdullah Ssemambo to act as the Mufti of Uganda, urging "all concerned persons to remain calm and act responsibly".

“The attention of the Judiciary has been drawn to misleading reports by sections of media alleging that the High Court on Thursday December 21 agreed with the decision of the Resident Judge Jinja in Company Cause No. 002 of 2023 that resulted in the appointment of Sheikh Abudallah Ssemambo as the Acting Mufti of Uganda Supreme Council," it said in a statement.

“This is to clarify that Hon. Lady Justice Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya halted the execution and implementation of the resolutions of the General Assembly made on December 16 and December 17 that resulted in the appointment of Sheikh Ssemambo as Acting Mufti pending the determination of the application by the same judge who made the orders under the law for Review of Court Orders.”

The statement adds: “Relatedly, Miscellaneous Applications No. 309 of 2023, No.306 of 2023 and No.307 of 2023 have been referred back to Jinja High Court for hearing and determination. The Judiciary, therefore, appeals to the parties and all concerned persons to remain calm and act responsibly, as we wait the decision of the Court in Jinja.”

The clarification comes in the wake of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) on Tuesday swearing in Ssemambo, the Deputy Mufti of Uganda, as acting Mufti to replace embattled Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubajje.

This follows a vote by the UMSC General Assembly that forced Mubajje to step aside to pave way for investigations into the alleged sale of Ssembabule land.

Amidst chants, Ssemambo was escorted into the UMSC headquarters at Gadaffi Mosque in Old Kampala.

The UMSC national deputy chairman, Issa Gule, was also been sworn in as the new UMSC national chairman, replacing Dr. Muhammed Lubega, who was suspended alongside Mubajje.

In the meeting that elected Ssemambo, he also launched an inquiry into the alleged sale and auctioning of Muslim mosques, including the National Mosque and as part of their investigation, ordered for the suspension of Mubajje for six months to facilitate the commencement and conduct of the inquiry.

A committee was established to carry out the said investigation.

The probe team includes Hajji Mudathi Dooka from West Nile, Musa Muyinda from Makindye, Zulaika Kamara (Women Representative), Gule from eastern region, Yasin Kakuru from Kigezi and Muzamul Nsimbi from Busoga.

The removal of Mubajje and Lubega was questioned, with some members saying the proper procedure was not followed.

Hajji Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya, the UMSC general secretary, dismissed the election, arguing that Article 5 of the council’s constitution states that the removal of the Mufti from office can only occur through a joint session of the executive committee and the Majlis Al-Ulama or the College of Sheikhs.

Muluubya noted that UMSC is operating normally and officially recognizes only one Mufti: Mubajje.