Mayanja defies bid for Muslim presidential candidate
Nov 26, 2003
JUSTICE Forum president Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja has rejected the proposal for Muslims to back a single candidate in the next presidential elections
JUSTICE Forum president Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja has rejected the proposal for Muslims to back a single candidate in the next presidential elections, reports John Kakande.
A two-time presidential election contestant, Mayanja told The New Vision yesterday that the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Moses Ali, had taken him by surprise when he suggested Muslims should agree on a single presidential candidate.
Mayanja contested against President Yoweri Museveni during the 1996 and 2001 presidential elections.
He has already declared readiness to contest again in the 2006 presidential elections on the Justice Forum ticket.
Lt. Gen. Ali, speaking at an Idd El-Fitri party organised by Prince Kassim Nakibinge on Tuesday, was quoted as saying they should depart from the previous situation whereby a Muslim decided to contest for presidency without consulting fellow believers.
But Mayanja said there was no need for him to consult Muslims before he contested for the presidency because JEEMA was not intended to be an Islamic party.
Mayanja said he had listened to Ali, but did not get chance to respond to his remarks.
“I was taken by surprise. I had no chance to talk at the party,†Mayanja said.
He said he had no idea what Ali’s intentions were.
“I was not establishing an Islamic party for Muslims,†said Mayanja when asked why he never consulted fellow Muslims before contesting for the presidency.
“I do not think one needs to be a Muslim in order to aspire for justice,†he added, saying Justice Forum was for all people who support its mission.
“For us we feel we have a mission which brings us together,†Mayanja said.
He said they were ready to work with every all Ugandans, regardless of their faith.
He said they had to share their mission of fostering justice for all, economic revitalisation, eradication of poverty, morality and African unity.
A two-time presidential election contestant, Mayanja told The New Vision yesterday that the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Moses Ali, had taken him by surprise when he suggested Muslims should agree on a single presidential candidate.
Mayanja contested against President Yoweri Museveni during the 1996 and 2001 presidential elections.
He has already declared readiness to contest again in the 2006 presidential elections on the Justice Forum ticket.
Lt. Gen. Ali, speaking at an Idd El-Fitri party organised by Prince Kassim Nakibinge on Tuesday, was quoted as saying they should depart from the previous situation whereby a Muslim decided to contest for presidency without consulting fellow believers.
But Mayanja said there was no need for him to consult Muslims before he contested for the presidency because JEEMA was not intended to be an Islamic party.
Mayanja said he had listened to Ali, but did not get chance to respond to his remarks.
“I was taken by surprise. I had no chance to talk at the party,†Mayanja said.
He said he had no idea what Ali’s intentions were.
“I was not establishing an Islamic party for Muslims,†said Mayanja when asked why he never consulted fellow Muslims before contesting for the presidency.
“I do not think one needs to be a Muslim in order to aspire for justice,†he added, saying Justice Forum was for all people who support its mission.
“For us we feel we have a mission which brings us together,†Mayanja said.
He said they were ready to work with every all Ugandans, regardless of their faith.
He said they had to share their mission of fostering justice for all, economic revitalisation, eradication of poverty, morality and African unity.