Kibuli Muslim factions set terms for reconciliation

By Paul Kiwuuwa                          

KAMPALA - The head of the Kibuli-based Muslim faction has said any calls for reconciliation among the faithful should be based on principle not on personal whims.

In his preaching during the Juma prayers at Kibuli Mosque on Friday, deputy Supreme Mufti Sheikh Muhamood Kibaate set conditions before they reconcile.

He said: “The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, has to first return all the Muslim property which were improperly disposed of by the leaders of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council [UMSC].”

He also demanded that UMSC leaders must hold a public confession to all Muslims countrywide.

"The condition is we demand for a public confession by the UMSC leaders for the wrongs committed before Mubajje can meet our leadership for unity talks or reconciliation.

"Two wrongs cannot make a right. If we reconcile with the Old Kampala factions it means betraying the Ugandan Muslim community for the wrongs committed by Mubajje and his followers.”

‘Not yet resolved’

The Muslim leader added: "Therefore, any reconciliation must be based on the principles that led the Muslims of Uganda to denounce the leadership at Old Kampala. The reconciliation must address the points that led to their disunity and not based on personal notions.”
 

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Muslims take time off to mingle after Juma prayers at Kibuli Mosque last Friday. (Photo credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)  

There was heavy police deployment at the mosque, where hundreds of Muslims turned up for prayers.

"The Mufti has always and still is behind the unity of the Muslims in Uganda. The establishment of the office of the Mufti was as a result of the improper disposal of the property of the Muslims of Uganda by leaders still at large at the UMSC. This matter is not yet resolved and is in the courts of law," Sheikh Kibaate revealed.

In an interview, the UMSC spokesperson, Hajj Nsereko Mutumba said UMSC would remain the official seat of all Muslims countrywide and all Muslims regardless of their sect affiliations.

Recently, a section of Muslims from Nakasero, Spidika and William Street mosques in Kampala met to discuss unity among the Muslims and proposed to hold joint prayers at UMSC mosque.

Sheikh Mubajje and Dr. Edris Kasenene are jointly accused of illegally selling UMSC property, including plots 102 and 30 on William Street, and plot 12-16 on Port Bell road to business man Hassan Basajjabalaba.

It is alleged that Basajjabalaba later sold the plots to businessman, Drake Lubega.

The conflict ended up in court, with Mubajje, Basajjabalaba and former secretary-general Edris Kasenene facing criminal charges in relation to the accusations.

The trio was acquitted, but the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the ruling, saying the magistrate's pronouncement that Mubajje lied in the property dealings disqualifies him from leading the Muslim community.

The anti-Mubajje faction responded by electing a rival Mufti, Sheik Zubair Kayongo, who is based at Kibuli.


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