MPs Juma prayers undermined Muslim structures –UMSC

The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has supported a move by the Uganda Police Force to block Juma prayers, which had been organized by Members of Parliament.
The Supreme Council says that the prayers undermined the Muslim structures.

The Prayers which had been planned to take place at Kololo ceremonial grounds were organized by Kampala Central MP Mohammed Nsereko and Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebaggala, to allegedly pray for the lives of Muslims who have been murdered, arrested and tortured over the years.

However, police blocked the prayers on condition that the organisers had not obtained clearance from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.

UMSC Public Relations Officer Hajji Nsereko Mutumba told URN that although Ssebaggala, in his capacity of the Imam of Parliament is at liberty to organize prayers in the precincts of parliament; he undermined the structures of the Muslim leadership when he opted to organize a national event without the involvement of the top leadership.

Mr Mutumba adds that the organisers ignored protocol when they chose to notify the Mufti about the event, as opposed to making UMSC part of the process.
"Police inquired whether we had knowledge about the prayers and we told them we were not aware. The prayers should have been arranged in consultation with people in charge of that [Islamic] community," he said.
Mr Mutumba said the MPs should follow the right channels whenever organizing national events adding that national prayers should be planned and follow the protocol of other faith.
“I think they are part of thOse people who form these policies and protocols.Now if at all you just arrogantly organise something without following protocol. I as Nsereko Mutumba cannot petion the Speaker of Parliament without following protocol. If they have to follow protocol in Parliament then why not in the Islamic faith?” he added.
In December, Nsereko and Ssebaggala wrote to the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola and the Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi seeking permission for the prayers. Muhoozi cleared the prayers but on condition that Ochola also does the same. However, Ochola has never responded to the letter.