Muslim group names rival Mufti at Kibuli
Jan 28, 2009
MUSLIMS opposed to the Mufti, Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, have named an Islamic scholar, Sheik Zubair Kayongo, as their own Mufti. A group of 40 Muslim clerics yesterday met at Kibuli Mosque and elected Kayongo to serve as the interim Mufti for two yea
By Madinah Tebajjukira
MUSLIMS opposed to the Mufti, Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, have named an Islamic scholar, Sheik Zubair Kayongo, as their own Mufti.
The election of Kayongo, 75, is a culmination of a legal and religious stand-off following accusations that Mubajje fraudulent sold off Muslim properties.
A group of 40 Muslim clerics yesterday met at Kibuli Mosque and elected Kayongo to serve as the interim Mufti for two years.
Sheiks Abdullah Hakim Ssekimpi, a leader of one of the factions of the radical Tabliq Muslims and Habib Kabasa from Jinja district were named deputies to Kayongo.
The controversial exercise was presided over by Dr Anas Kalisa, the former vice-rector of the Islamic University in Uganda in Mbale.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Hassan Kiirya, Kayongo would oversee the review of the Muslim constitution, sensitise Muslims on the status of their property and rebuild the image of Islam, which they said has been tainted.
Kayongo was also mandated to organise elections of another Mufti right from the grassroots.
“From today, Mubajje ceases to be the Mufti of Uganda. We shall write to the relevant authorities and countries about this development,†said Kiirya.
Kayongo, flanked by about 20 sheiks, smiled when Kiirya declared him the new Mufti.
Kiirya disclosed that Kayongo was selected because he was a former Muslim leader and above 70 years.
The selection, he said, did not follow the criteria provided for in the Muslim constitution due to limited time.
Hajji Muhammad Ali Adrama, who was sacked over the weekend as the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council chairman by Mubajje, was appointed the group’s chairman. Hajji Muhammad Kisambira is his deputy.
The group also appointed sheiks Yakubu Manafa as secretary general, Nuhu Muzaata as director for Dawah, Mahdi Kakooza as secretary for religious affairs and Mustapher Bahiiga as treasurer.
The group further appointed 28 sheiks to constitute the ‘Council of Eminent Sheiks’ headed by Sheik Obeid Kamulegeya, a former chief khadi during the Obote II regime. Kiirya said the leaders would be sworn in on Friday at Kibuli mosque after the Juma prayers.
When contacted for a comment, UMSC spokesperson Hajji Nsereko Mutumba said: “I am not aware and I can’t comment on something which I don’t know.â€
The current standoff in the Muslim community was sparked off in 2006 when Sheik Ssekimpi accused Mubajje of fraudulently selling a number of plots on William Street and Port Bell road in Luzira belonging to the Muslims.
The conflict ended up in the court, with Mubajje, city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and former secretary general Edris Kasenene facing criminal charges.
The trio was acquitted by court. But the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the court ruling and vowed to name its own Mufti.
There have been longstanding leadership wrangles in the Muslim leadership.
The wrangles started as far back as the 1960s when the community was split into two rival groups – Uganda Muslim Community based at Kibuli with Prince Badru Kakungulu as its titular head and the National Association for the Advancement of Muslims that was aligned to the then ruling UPC government, with Sheik Kamulegeya as one of its top leaders.
When Idi Amin seized power in 1971, he compelled all the groups to merge under the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. He also took over responsibility of naming the Mufti.
Shortly after the Amin overthrow in 1979, the Muslims split into two factions again — one led by Sheik Kamulegeya and the other by Sheik Kassim Mulumba.
After protracted negotiations, the Muslims united under the leadership of Sheik Rajab Kakooza, with Sheik Luwemba as his deputy.
In the late 1980s, the community split again, with one group led by Kakooza and another by Luwemba. Unity was again achieved in 2000 when the groups came under Mubajje.
Kayongo’s profile
Sheik Kayongo was born in Bbaale, Kayunga district to the late Hajji Sowedi Kayongo.
He studied at Katuumu Muslim School in Luweero district and later at Lamu Muslim College in Kenya. He started teaching Islamic studies in 1955.
Served as a deputy Mufti to Sheik Luwemba in the 1980s. He also held the same post under Sheik Ahmad Mukasa when he was leading a faction based at Kibuli Mosque.
A member of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council’s college of sheiks.
He is close to the Buganda Kingdom leadership at Mengo and heads a conflict resolution committee of one of Buganda’s clans, the Kobe. He has residences in Kiteezi, on Gayaza road in Wakiso district and Lwamata in Kiboga district.
Compiled by Madinah
Tebajjukira
MUSLIMS opposed to the Mufti, Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, have named an Islamic scholar, Sheik Zubair Kayongo, as their own Mufti.
The election of Kayongo, 75, is a culmination of a legal and religious stand-off following accusations that Mubajje fraudulent sold off Muslim properties.
A group of 40 Muslim clerics yesterday met at Kibuli Mosque and elected Kayongo to serve as the interim Mufti for two years.
Sheiks Abdullah Hakim Ssekimpi, a leader of one of the factions of the radical Tabliq Muslims and Habib Kabasa from Jinja district were named deputies to Kayongo.
The controversial exercise was presided over by Dr Anas Kalisa, the former vice-rector of the Islamic University in Uganda in Mbale.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Hassan Kiirya, Kayongo would oversee the review of the Muslim constitution, sensitise Muslims on the status of their property and rebuild the image of Islam, which they said has been tainted.
Kayongo was also mandated to organise elections of another Mufti right from the grassroots.
“From today, Mubajje ceases to be the Mufti of Uganda. We shall write to the relevant authorities and countries about this development,†said Kiirya.
Kayongo, flanked by about 20 sheiks, smiled when Kiirya declared him the new Mufti.
Kiirya disclosed that Kayongo was selected because he was a former Muslim leader and above 70 years.
The selection, he said, did not follow the criteria provided for in the Muslim constitution due to limited time.
Hajji Muhammad Ali Adrama, who was sacked over the weekend as the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council chairman by Mubajje, was appointed the group’s chairman. Hajji Muhammad Kisambira is his deputy.
The group also appointed sheiks Yakubu Manafa as secretary general, Nuhu Muzaata as director for Dawah, Mahdi Kakooza as secretary for religious affairs and Mustapher Bahiiga as treasurer.
The group further appointed 28 sheiks to constitute the ‘Council of Eminent Sheiks’ headed by Sheik Obeid Kamulegeya, a former chief khadi during the Obote II regime. Kiirya said the leaders would be sworn in on Friday at Kibuli mosque after the Juma prayers.
When contacted for a comment, UMSC spokesperson Hajji Nsereko Mutumba said: “I am not aware and I can’t comment on something which I don’t know.â€
The current standoff in the Muslim community was sparked off in 2006 when Sheik Ssekimpi accused Mubajje of fraudulently selling a number of plots on William Street and Port Bell road in Luzira belonging to the Muslims.
The conflict ended up in the court, with Mubajje, city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and former secretary general Edris Kasenene facing criminal charges.
The trio was acquitted by court. But the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the court ruling and vowed to name its own Mufti.
There have been longstanding leadership wrangles in the Muslim leadership.
The wrangles started as far back as the 1960s when the community was split into two rival groups – Uganda Muslim Community based at Kibuli with Prince Badru Kakungulu as its titular head and the National Association for the Advancement of Muslims that was aligned to the then ruling UPC government, with Sheik Kamulegeya as one of its top leaders.
When Idi Amin seized power in 1971, he compelled all the groups to merge under the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. He also took over responsibility of naming the Mufti.
Shortly after the Amin overthrow in 1979, the Muslims split into two factions again — one led by Sheik Kamulegeya and the other by Sheik Kassim Mulumba.
After protracted negotiations, the Muslims united under the leadership of Sheik Rajab Kakooza, with Sheik Luwemba as his deputy.
In the late 1980s, the community split again, with one group led by Kakooza and another by Luwemba. Unity was again achieved in 2000 when the groups came under Mubajje.
Kayongo’s profile
Sheik Kayongo was born in Bbaale, Kayunga district to the late Hajji Sowedi Kayongo.
Compiled by Madinah
Tebajjukira