Muslims oppose regional khadi

A section of Muslims in Masaka Sub-region have contested the installation of a regional khadi.
Sheikh Juma Mawejje Kabanda was installed as regional Khadi for West Buganda by Mufti of Uganda Shaban Mubajje at a function held at Masaka Liberation Square last Saturday.

West Buganda Muslim region comprises 10 districts including Masaka, Lyantonde, Mubende, Bukomansimbi, Mityana, Kalangala, Lwengo, Mpigi, Sembabule and Rakai.

Sheikh Swaibu Ndugga, the Masaka District khadi, said Sheikh Kabanda’s appointment is unconstitutional and it did not follow Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) constitution.
“Muslims themselves know the truth. What leaders at Old Kampala [the official seat of Muslims in Uganda] resolved won’t solve our problems, but rather intensify them,” Sheikh Ndugga said in an interview on Tuesday.

Protests
Sheikh Ndugga said the 26 districts stipulated in the UMSC constitution have always been represented fairly in the General Assembly and creating of regional khadis was uncalled for.
He said creating the slot of regional khadi is intended to weaken the powers of district khadis.

“As a body, UMSC is in perpetuity to unify all Muslims in Uganda, according to Article 1 of the constitution. There’s no clause in the constitution which mentions regional khadis and their roles,” he stated.

The Muslim cleric said the decision by UMSC to increase Muslim districts from 26 to 62 was also unconstitutional.

“If any changes are to be made, there must be amendments in the constitution, which those people have not bothered to do,” he said.

Sheikh Ndugga subscribes to the parallel Kibuli Muslim faction, which is wrangling with the Old Kampala group led by Mufti Mubajje .

The installation of Sheikh Kabanda comes 19 months after the UMSC secretary general, Hajj Ramathan Mugalu, on February 9, 2018 announced a new regional administrative structure, where nine Muslim regions were created.

The new regions include Kampala, West Buganda, East Buganda, Busoga, Eastern, Northern, West Nile, Ankole - Kigezi and Tooro–Bunyoro. Under the new arrangement, each region is expected to have a regional executive, management committee and a council of sheikhs. There must also be an honorary regional khadi.

Sheikh Ayoub Nyende, the secretary general of Jamuiyat Da’awa Assalafiyya, an association under the Tabliq Muslim Community, said the ongoing installation of regional khadis is hurriedly conducted.

“There is a case in court challenging the creation of regional structures and the ruling is expected on December 4,” he said.

A court injunction issued by Kampala High Court Judge Justice Lydia Mugambe on October 4, 2018, seen by this newspaper, stayed the creation of new Muslim structures .

However, Hajji Nsereko Mutumba, the UMSC spokesperson considers the installation of regional khadi as a well guided move aimed at improving service delivery, transparency and decentralising power.

“We have different needs in different regions and that’s why we have been able to upgrade from district to regional level,” he said.

According to Hajj Mutumba, although the UMSC constitution only considers district leadership they saw an advantage in creating a regional khadi.

Supporters
Sheikh Bruhan Bagunduse, the Masaka District khadi subscribing to Old Kampala faction, welcomed the move and advised Muslims to work together to promote Islam.

“... As a leader, I know that it is beneficial to Muslims because other religions like Catholics have had it before,” he said.

Although some Muslims in Masaka shunned the swearing in ceremony, Sheikh Mubajje said he was impressed with the turnout, adding that it was indication that Muslims had started to support UMSC programmes.

The function was also graced by State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza, who delivered President Museveni’s message with the donation of a car to the regional khadi for easy mobility while conducting his duties.