PIC: Prince Kassim Nakibinge (left) Supreme Mufti Zubairi Kayongo and Sheikh Rajabu Kakooza during the commemoration of founding elder of Islam Nuhu Mbogo. Nakibinge will preside over prayers to remember Kayongo on Monday (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

RELIGION

KIBOGA - Muslims will on Monday hold special prayers to remember Supreme Mufti Sheikh Zubair Sowedi Kayongo.

The function in which thousands of Muslims are expected to attend will be held at Lwamata in Kiboga district starting at 10:00am.

The titular leader of Muslims in the country, Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, is expected to preside over the event.

Kayongo, who was the first Supreme Mufti, died in April 2015 at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar -es-Salaam in Tanzania.

He was elected rival Mufti in January 2009 by a faction of Muslim clerics at Kibuli, who denounced the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, over alleged sale of a number of Muslim properties, including William Street Mosque.

Sheikh Kayongo's profile

Kayongo was born in Bbaale, Kayunga district to the late Haji Sowedi Kayongo.

He studied at Katuumu Muslim School in Luwero district, where most of the old regime of Sheikhs was trained under the Sheikh Swaibu Ssemakula, the first Mufti of Uganda.

Kayongo later joined Lamu Muslim College in Kenya. He started teaching Islamic studies in 1955.

He served as a deputy Mufti to Sheikh Luwemba in the 1980s. He also held the same post under Sheikh Ahmad Mukasa, who was leading a Muslim faction based at Kibuli Mosque.

Kayongo was also a member of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council's College of Sheikhs.