Tinyefuza, Muslims reconcile
Jan 03, 2003
THE Minister for the Presidency, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has reconciled Army MP Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza with the Muslim community, following misunderstandings between the two over latter’s early morning prayer call (kuwaziina).
By Geresom Musamali
THE Minister for the Presidency, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has reconciled Army MP Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza with the Muslim community, following misunderstandings between the two over latter’s early morning prayer call (kuwaziina).
Tinyefuza, a presidential adviser on defence and security, clashed with the Muslims late last year over noise from a mosque near his residence in Kyengera.
At the peak of the crisis, Tinyefuza’s bodyguards allegedly shot at the Muslims.
However, Tinyefuza said the shooting was accident by a drunken soldier.
A meeting in Bukenya’s office yesterday, attended by Inspector General of Police Katumba Wamala, resolved that the Muslims should control the level of noise from their loudspeakers for the prayer call.
Others at the meeting were the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council secretary general Hajj Edris Kasenene, the Amir of the Tabliqs Sulaiman Kakeeto, and Sheikh Abas Bangirana from Nakasero Mosque.
“It is not General Tinyefuza alone but many residents of Kyengera who are fighting this level of noise. They are not against the prayer call,†said Bukenya.
“We agreed that the mosque be left for residents for prayers. People from far away places who come for meetings in the mosque temporarily keep off,†he added.
Bukenya said the UMSC has been asked to re-examine their policy on the prayer call and issue a nationwide guideline.
He appealed to the public to stop using worship places as political arenas.
THE Minister for the Presidency, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has reconciled Army MP Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza with the Muslim community, following misunderstandings between the two over latter’s early morning prayer call (kuwaziina).
Tinyefuza, a presidential adviser on defence and security, clashed with the Muslims late last year over noise from a mosque near his residence in Kyengera.
At the peak of the crisis, Tinyefuza’s bodyguards allegedly shot at the Muslims.
However, Tinyefuza said the shooting was accident by a drunken soldier.
A meeting in Bukenya’s office yesterday, attended by Inspector General of Police Katumba Wamala, resolved that the Muslims should control the level of noise from their loudspeakers for the prayer call.
Others at the meeting were the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council secretary general Hajj Edris Kasenene, the Amir of the Tabliqs Sulaiman Kakeeto, and Sheikh Abas Bangirana from Nakasero Mosque.
“It is not General Tinyefuza alone but many residents of Kyengera who are fighting this level of noise. They are not against the prayer call,†said Bukenya.
“We agreed that the mosque be left for residents for prayers. People from far away places who come for meetings in the mosque temporarily keep off,†he added.
Bukenya said the UMSC has been asked to re-examine their policy on the prayer call and issue a nationwide guideline.
He appealed to the public to stop using worship places as political arenas.