Masaka Muslims reject regional Khadi

A section of Muslims in Masaka Sub-region have contested the election of Sheikh Bruhan Bagunduse as the regional Khadi for West Buganda.
Sheikh Bagunduse, who has been Masaka District Khadi under Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), sailed through unopposed during an election held in Masaka Town on February 17. Nine other people were also elected on the regional executive committee and these include among others; Hajj Hussein Matovu, (chairperson) Hajj Badru Kateregga (secretary) Hajj Ali Matovu (treasurer) and Eng. Abdu Nasser Mugisha (vice chairperson). A management committee and a council of sheikhs was also put in place.

West Buganda Muslim region comprises 10 districts of Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Kalungu Rakai Sembabule, Kalangala, Lyantonde, Lwengo, Mpigi and Mityana.
The elections were held barely a week after UMSC Secretary General, Hajj Ramathan Mugalu on February 9 announced a new regional administrative structure, where nine Muslims regions were created to replace the existing 62 districts. The new regions include; Kampala, West Buganda, East Buganda, Busoga, Eastern, Northern, West Nile, Ankole - Kigezi and Tooro – Bunyoro. Under the new arrangement, each of the regions is expected to have a regional executive, management committee and a council of sheikhs. There must also be an honorary regional khadi.

However, those opposed to the changes claim the elections were hurriedly conducted and did not follow the UMSC constitution. This opposing group mainly has Muslims subscribing to the Kibuli Muslim faction.
Sheikh Swaibu Ndugga, the Masaka District Khadi for the Kibuli faction, explained that the UMSC constitution talks about district Khadis, not regional Khadis and there is no way UMSC can effect the changes without amending the constitution.

He cited Article 2 of the UMSC constitution which stipulates that there are 26 Muslim districts, not regions as indicated under the new structure.
“Regional structures are not bad, but they are not anywhere in the UMSC constitution. Even the decision they took to increase districts from 26 to 62 is unconstitutional. If they are to be introduced, there must be amendments in the constitution which has not been done,” he said during an interview last weekend

He added that the announced changes are intended to confuse Muslims and divert them from demanding accountability from UMSC top management whom they accuse of running down the institution and presiding over illegal sale of community property across the country.
“They [UMSC] have always come up with a contradicting issue all the time with their own motives and this is one of them,” Sheikh Ndugga said.

He said they have since advised the faithful in the area to ignore the new changes announced by UMSC.
However, the Old Kampala faction, loyal to Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje claims that the changes are intended to improve service delivery, transparency, social justice, fair processes of work and improvement in management of financial resources.
“What is bad with decentralising power? Everything has been handled at the centre [UMSC headquarters] even the minor issues, but recently, regional structures were created and we are implementing them,” Sheikh Bagunduse argued.

Apparently, the two parallel district Kadhis; Sheikh Ndugga and Bagunduse, are embroiled in a dispute over the management of Bwala Muslim Primary School, two plots of land, and a commercial building, all located in Masaka Town.
According to Sheikh Ndugga, their Old Kampala counterparts forcefully seized the management of the school and are now plotting to confiscate the other properties still under his custody.

The elected leadership further proposed to build West Buganda Muslim regional headquarters on their eight-acre-piece of land found in Ssenyange, a Masaka Town suburb.

When asked about the validity of the election and regional structures, Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, the UMSC spokesperson, said although the regional structures were introduced, they are not yet operational.
“The regional structures have not been operationalized, “Hajji Mutumba said calling the election conducted in Masaka a ‘mock election’.

However, on the contrary, Hajj Mugala, who announced the new regional administrative structure on February, said the changes had taken immediate effect. Mr Sulait Ssebowa, the UMSC electoral commissioner in charge of Buganda region who presided over the elections said the exercise was lawful and the Mufti (Shaban Mubajje), will soon preside over a ceremony where the elected leaders will be sworn in.

Meanwhile, Muslim youth belonging to Jamuiyat Da’awa Assalafiyya, an association under the Tabliq Muslim Community, have since filed a case at Kampala Commercial Court seeking to overturn the changes announced by Hajj Mugalu.
Unity has eluded Muslims in Uganda since its advent in the country in 1844. In 1972, the former president, Iddi Amin Dadda forcefully united Muslims under the umbrella of UMSC. However, the unity was short-lived as his government was disposed in 1979.

Muslims reunited again in 2000 shortly after the election of the incumbent Mufti, Sheikh Mubajje but broke-up only a few years later accusing his leadership of illegally disposing off Muslim property at William Street in Kampala.

Those opposed to Sheikh Mubajje’s leadership took the matter to court which later exonerated him. However, they were dissatisfied with the ruling and went ahead to establish a parallel leadership based at Kibuli Mosque. Although the said property has since reverted to Muslims and Mubajje publicly apologized, a section of Muslims still believe that this is not enough since he has not personally reconciled with other top leaders at Kibuli.

As a result, President Museveni appointed the Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere-led Commission to inquire into the perennial Muslim wrangles and make appropriate recommendations for implementation. One of the recommendations was to dissolve the parallel administrations and allow Muslims elect a new unifying mufti. However, the recommendations of the report are yet to be implemented.
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