Rival mufti sworn in at Kibuli
Jan 31, 2009
SHEIKH Zubair Kayongo was yesterday sworn in as a rival Mufti to Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, amidst chants of <i>Allahu –Akbar</i> (God is great).<br>Kayongo, 75, elected on Wednesday by 40 Muslim clerics, was sworn in at Kibuli Mosque by Sheikh Br
By Madinah Tebajjukira
SHEIKH Zubair Kayongo was yesterday sworn in as a rival Mufti to Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, amidst chants of Allahu –Akbar (God is great).
Kayongo, 75, elected on Wednesday by 40 Muslim clerics, was sworn in at Kibuli Mosque by Sheikh Brahane Ssemakula.
The ceremony lasted about two hours. Kayongo called on all Muslims to unite and work for development, adding that he would consult before taking decisions as he performs his duties.
“As Muslims, we need to be calm and tolerant. We are hopeful that we shall exercise good leadership since we never campaigned and made no promises,†he said amidst chants from thousands of Muslims.
Sheikh Nuhu Muzata, who was also sworn in as director for Dawah (spreading Islam), said the Muslims had started a journey to Old Kampala. He warned that all Muslim properties which had been fraudulently sold would be recovered.
Sheik Obeid Kamulegeya, sworn in as chairman of the ‘Council of Eminent Sheiks’, described Kayongo as the ‘Supreme Mufti’.
MPs Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA), Lule Mawiya (NRM) Erias Lukwago (DP) and officials from Buganda Kingdom attended the function.
Kayongo is to serve for two years.
His election is a culmination of a legal and religious standoff stemming from accusations, against Mubajje, of the fraudulent disposal of Muslim properties.
Sheikhs Abdullah Hakim Ssekimpi, a leader of one of the factions of the radical Tabliq Muslims and Habib Kabasa from Jinja are to deputise Kayongo.
Born in Bbaale, Kayunga district, to the late Sowedi Kayongo, the rival mufti went to Katuumu Muslim School in Luwero and Lamu Muslim College in Kenya.
With residences in Kitezi, Wakiso and Lwamata in Kiboga, Kayongo was selected because he was a former Muslim leader and above is 70 years. During the elections, the group did not follow the criteria provided for in the Muslim constitution for electing the Mufti due to limited time.
An Islamic teacher by profession, Kayongo started teaching in 1955. He owns two Islamic schools in Kitezi and Lwamata.
Kayongo is expected to oversee the review of the existing Muslim constitution, sensitise Muslims on the situation of Muslim property and rebuild the image of Islam, which the group’s spokesperson Hassan Kirya said had been tainted.
Kayongo had previously served as a deputy Mufti to Sheikh Luwembe in the 1980s. He also held a similar post under Sheikh Ahmad Mukasa when he was leading a faction based at Kibuli Mosque. He was also a member of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council’s College of Sheikhs.
He is close to the Buganda Kingdom leadership at Mengo and heads a conflict resolution committee of one of Buganda’s clans – the Koobe.
Others sworn in were Hajji Muhammad Ali Adrama, the group’s chairman and Hajji Muhammad Kisambira as his deputy, Yakubu Manafa as secretary general, Mahdi Kakooza, secretary for religious affairs and Mustapher Bahiiga as treasurer.
The current standoff in the Muslim community was sparked off in 2006 when Sheikh Ssekimpi accused Mubajje of fraudulently selling plots along William Street and on Port Bell Road in Luzira belonging to the Muslims.
SHEIKH Zubair Kayongo was yesterday sworn in as a rival Mufti to Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, amidst chants of Allahu –Akbar (God is great).
Kayongo, 75, elected on Wednesday by 40 Muslim clerics, was sworn in at Kibuli Mosque by Sheikh Brahane Ssemakula.
The ceremony lasted about two hours. Kayongo called on all Muslims to unite and work for development, adding that he would consult before taking decisions as he performs his duties.
“As Muslims, we need to be calm and tolerant. We are hopeful that we shall exercise good leadership since we never campaigned and made no promises,†he said amidst chants from thousands of Muslims.
Sheikh Nuhu Muzata, who was also sworn in as director for Dawah (spreading Islam), said the Muslims had started a journey to Old Kampala. He warned that all Muslim properties which had been fraudulently sold would be recovered.
Sheik Obeid Kamulegeya, sworn in as chairman of the ‘Council of Eminent Sheiks’, described Kayongo as the ‘Supreme Mufti’.
MPs Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA), Lule Mawiya (NRM) Erias Lukwago (DP) and officials from Buganda Kingdom attended the function.
Kayongo is to serve for two years.
His election is a culmination of a legal and religious standoff stemming from accusations, against Mubajje, of the fraudulent disposal of Muslim properties.
Sheikhs Abdullah Hakim Ssekimpi, a leader of one of the factions of the radical Tabliq Muslims and Habib Kabasa from Jinja are to deputise Kayongo.
Born in Bbaale, Kayunga district, to the late Sowedi Kayongo, the rival mufti went to Katuumu Muslim School in Luwero and Lamu Muslim College in Kenya.
With residences in Kitezi, Wakiso and Lwamata in Kiboga, Kayongo was selected because he was a former Muslim leader and above is 70 years. During the elections, the group did not follow the criteria provided for in the Muslim constitution for electing the Mufti due to limited time.
An Islamic teacher by profession, Kayongo started teaching in 1955. He owns two Islamic schools in Kitezi and Lwamata.
Kayongo is expected to oversee the review of the existing Muslim constitution, sensitise Muslims on the situation of Muslim property and rebuild the image of Islam, which the group’s spokesperson Hassan Kirya said had been tainted.
Kayongo had previously served as a deputy Mufti to Sheikh Luwembe in the 1980s. He also held a similar post under Sheikh Ahmad Mukasa when he was leading a faction based at Kibuli Mosque. He was also a member of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council’s College of Sheikhs.
He is close to the Buganda Kingdom leadership at Mengo and heads a conflict resolution committee of one of Buganda’s clans – the Koobe.
Others sworn in were Hajji Muhammad Ali Adrama, the group’s chairman and Hajji Muhammad Kisambira as his deputy, Yakubu Manafa as secretary general, Mahdi Kakooza, secretary for religious affairs and Mustapher Bahiiga as treasurer.
The current standoff in the Muslim community was sparked off in 2006 when Sheikh Ssekimpi accused Mubajje of fraudulently selling plots along William Street and on Port Bell Road in Luzira belonging to the Muslims.