Mubajje calls for unity in West Nile

RELIGION

ARUA - The Mufti of Uganda, Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, has called for unity and development of the West Nile region.

He made the remarks on Sunday during the inauguration of the district Khadi Arua, Sheikh Shaban Abujaffer, who was appointed by the Electoral Commission of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council on September 15^th this year.

Last month, Arua Khadi suspended the former caretaker of the Muslim district Sheikh Abdullai Vuni for defecting to the Kibuli faction under Sheikh Silman Kasule Ndirangwa.

Other county sheikhs and councillors were also suspended, which culminated into chaotic scenes over the ownership of Muktar Mosque, Arua municipality county headquarters.

However, the Arua-Kibuli sect has constructed a temporary structure that is housing their offices.

Sheikh Mubajje said a round table discussions should be part of every Muslim to mitigate internal conflicts.

"Why should the Government waste resources on teargas, yet Muslims are able to sit down and talk to solve their problems?" he asked.

He asked the Muslims in Arua Muslim district that consists of Arua and Maracha to unite and remain one and avoid rumours and back-biting each other because they are brothers and sisters.

The Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, who represented President Yoweri Museveni tasked the religious leaders to ensure that all Muslims understand the doctrine of God.

 "You are all the same, learn yourself and the surrounding  because you are on earth for a short period of time", "when I heard the problems of divisionism you have in Arua, I was surprised," he said.

He similarly called upon the people of West Nile to remain united and work extremely hard because government cannot give to everyone.

"After the liberation war in 1986, West Nile was almost empty. Therefore, why should the people of West Nile isolate themselves?" he asked.

 The newly inaugurated district Khadi, Sheikh Shaban Abujjaffer, asked the mufti to intervene in the issuing of land titles of land belonging to the Muslim council.

"If there is any other person moving around saying that the Muslim supreme council has sold land, then it is a lie," he said.

Ibrahim Candia, a resident of River Oli division said the inauguration of the Khadi has helped to understand the different sects within the Muslim Ummah.

Zaitun Apio, a resident of Awindiri in Arua hill division said the new district Khadi brings new ideas that will help develop and unite the Muslims of Arua.

Razak Amin a resident of Yivu, Maracha district said they still pray in makeshift mosques and with the inauguration of the district Khadi, they hope better structures will be constructed.

 Who is Sheik Shaban Abujaffer?

He was born on May 16, 1979 to the late Shaban Karala and Medina Suleiman of Aringa tribe in Arua, completed his primary school at Arua Islamic Primary School in 1997.

He went to Nile High School, but dropped out in Senior Three and went for theology studies at Malindi Islamic Centre, Kenya.

He resumed Senior Four at Alliance Global College and Arua hall in 2011 for Advanced Certificate of Education.

He has a bachelor of Laws from the Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale.

He has one child and a wife and boasts of two schools, Ikhlas Islamic Centre and Jadem Memorial School.