Mubajje trashes report on local Muslim feuds

By Umaru Kashaka

KAMPALA - The Mufti of Uganda Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje has rejected a number of proposals put forward by a presidential committee to resolve Muslim wrangles in Uganda.

The committee, headed by the general duties minister, Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, last week presented a report recommending that the 1987 Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) constitution be amended, among other things.

But last Friday, Mubajje referred to these proposals as a waste of time. In a press statement issued after the Friday prayers by UMSC spokesperson Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, the Mufti noted that any change of leadership or amendments in the constitution can only be effected by relevant UMSC organs as provided for in article 23 of the UMSC constitution.

Mubajje argued that Muslims countrywide demonstrated unity when they massively took part in elections that brought the current UMSC leadership in office.

“For those who refused to be part of this constitutional and peaceful exercise, there is no shortcut,” he remarked in apparent reference to the Kibuli faction, which said the UMSC constitution was faulty and was being exploited by the same council to conduct elections.

The Mufti added: “UMSC cannot bend its rules to appease a few individuals who are seeking cheap popularity.”

Mubajje said the issues in the report are meant to drive Muslim attention from worshipping during the month of Ramadhan (fasting), expected to begin on June 29.

“I would like to assure all of you that you democratically and constitutionally elected your leaders right from the village Mosque to the headquarters. Your constitution and organs are still intact and progressive,” the Mufti told the audience.

Without mentioning names, Mubajje said Muslims who claim to have initiated the mediation process will only be successful if they are not part of the problem because “if you are part of the problem, it is always hard to be part of the solution.”

The committee was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni to investigate the perennial wrangles within the Muslim community and propose ways of resolving them.

true
General duties minister, Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, presented the report last week

The wrangles led to Muslims breaking into two camps, one loyal to Mubajje at Old Kampala and the other to Supreme Mufti Zubair Kayongo based at Kibuli. The committee presented the report that it compiled in 2012 to the President in a ceremony that took place at State House Entebbe on June 14.

Receiving the report, Museveni said he would soon meet the committee to work out a programme based on the proposed road map that is expected to lead to the establishment of a united leadership under a new constitution.

Among other things, the committee discovered that Muslims in Uganda want unity and that this unity would be guaranteed by a review of the UMSC constitution to provide for regional muftis and a grand mufti.

Members of the committee included the former regional affairs state minister Isaac Musumba, Makerere University’s Prof Yasin Olum representing the Government, while Hajji Muhammad Kisambira, Sheikh Hassan Kirya and Faisal Mukasa represented the Kibuli faction. The Old Kampala faction was represented by Dr Edris Kasenene, Haji Sulayiman Musana and Sheikh Anasi Ssesimba.

Committee members defend report

Kabwegyere told Sunday Vision on Friday that he was taken aback by Mubajje’s comments because he had representatives on the committee that authored the report and made the recommendations, including a review of the UMS C constitution.

true
Of the Muslim factions is loyal to Supreme Mufti Zubair Kayongo based at Kibuli

According to Musumba, Mubajje’s views are relevant because he is a Mufti, but are not binding.

“Nobody is proposing that things should be done irregularly. If the Muslims wish to amend the constitution, they can do so as long as they follow the law. Muslims are more than one person,” Musumba said.

He advised Mubajje to ‘cease fire’ until a proposed special judicial tribunal is set and starts examining the report.

“We interviewed him on record during our investigation into the wrangles and he gave his side of the story. If there are issues he wants to bring up, he has got an opportunity to raise them in the tribunal he will be part of,” Musumba noted.

Hajji Kisambira, who is the Kibuli Muslim administration secretary general, said Mubajje should blame nobody but his people who represented him on the committee if he is not satisfied by the committee findings.

“It is unfortunate that a person of Mubajje’s status can make such statements. Calls for constitutional reviews are not made by UMSC organs, but rather the public to the organs so that it can take action.

Mubajje has always been denying all the findings of the probes into Muslim wrangles because they find his leadership always wanting,” Kisambira said.

Sheikh Ssesimba, the UMS C officer in charge of ceremonies, noted in an earlier interview after the presentation of the report to Museveni that it made no sense to comment on something that is premature.

“I do not want to comment on the report and the meeting we had with the President when the matters have not been discussed conclusively. Even the President told everyone at the meeting to say he had only received the report, period,” Ssesimba remarked.