Muslim clerics oppose land grabbing, abortion

Nationwide- Leaders of the Muslim community yesterday celebrated Eid al-Aduha with calls for peaceful co-existence, renewed criticism of the rampant grabbing of land and denounced the proposed law on abortion.

The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje warned the government and advocates of the proposed law on abortion that termination of pregnancy is unacceptable and amounts to murder.

“In our culture abortion is bad. We cannot begin referring to other countries because their culture is different and besides there are challenges we are facing as a country like poverty and corruption right from families which we have to fight than focusing on ungodly things,” Sheikh Mubajje said at Gadaffi Mosque in Kampala.

The Ministry of Health is consulting on the ‘Abortion Bill’ that it says will go a long way in stopping unsafe abortions in the country that have resulted into deaths.
Sheikh Mubajje becomes the latest senior religious leader to oppose legalisation of abortion. Leaders of the Protestant and Catholic faiths have spent the past week protesting plans to legalise abortion.

Mufti Mubajje also lamented about the grabbing of Muslim land. He warned that any agreement entered into between area leaders without the consent of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council will be null and void.

Across town, the leader of Tabliq Sect, Amir Suleiman Kakeeto also asked his fellow Muslims during prayers at Clock Tower to desist from land grabbing.

“You find rich Muslims with billions in bank accounts grabbing land from the poor but they cannot buy animals to sacrifice,” he said.

In Ntungamo, Sheikh Swaleh Kashangirwe also spoke out against land grabbing, appealing to the government to protect religious institutions from land grabbers who create confusion among believers.

Sheikh Kashangirwe said land grabbers have become fearless and are targeting real estate belonging to religious institutions.

At Wandegeya Mosque, Sheikh Mu-a-muuni Bukenya asked believers to produce more children.

“Why do you produce only two children? What if Allah takes them all,.” Sheikh Bukenya said amidst cheers from the jovial congregation.

Sheikh Bukenya decried what he said was the small numbers of Muslims in public service compared to other religions.

At Basajjabalaba Mosque in Ishaka Town, Mr Gordon Arinda, the MP for Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality, asked believers to conserve swamps and save them from being degraded by encroachers who are destroying God’s creation.

Bushenyi District chairman, Mr Jaffari Basajjabalaba told Muslims that the president has already warned the district leadership against failing to rally the population and stop degrading the environment.

Promote peace
In Lira, Sheikh Yusuf Balinda warned Muslims against terrorism saying that perpetrators will go to hell.
“Anything violent, anything extreme is not part of Islam. Islam is peace,” Sheikh Balinda said.

In Gulu, Acholi District Muslim Khadi Sheikh Musa Khelil also asked Muslims to use Islam to promote peaceful co-existence.

“We must not misuse our faith for practices of hatred, extremism and shedding blood. We should rather share our religion to promote peace and unity amongst mankind,” Sheikh Khelil said.

In Tororo, the Muslim community pledged to support government programmes for the country’s development.

Addressing believers at the district main mosque, Tororo District deputy Khadi, Sheikh Hussein Kafuko also asked parents to take all their children to school so as to acquire relevant knowledge and skills to influence change in the area they live in.

Sheikh Kafuko cautioned the youth against associating with individuals who indulge in sinful acts like terrorism which are condemned in the Koran.

At Kibuli, Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the titular head of Muslims in the country, said leaders should discourage young people from gambling because this will not bring them wealth.

In Sembabule, Sheikh Mohammad Kyeswa advised Muslims to change their behaviour so as to please God.

“God is not happy with our ill behaviour that is why He is sending us signals like the dry spell and the recent earthquake,” Sheik Kyeswa said.

He added: “He wants us to change our ill behaviour,”
At Hoima Booma ground, Sheikh Idrisa Songolo condemned human sacrifice and warned Muslims against being tempted to embrace the vice in the vain hope of getting wealth.
“People should remember that it is God who gives.
Sacrifice animals in fulfillment of God’s promise,” he said.

Acting district Kadhi of Kabarole, Sheikh Talib Hussein Ghalib asked Muslims to always preach the message of peace and reconciliation.

Reported by Ephraim Kasozi, Amos Ngwomoya, Zadock Amanyisa, Perez Rumanzi, Bill Oketch, Julius Ocungi, Joseph Omollo, Stephen Wandera, Stephen Otage, Moses Muwulya, Francis Mugerwa, Scovia Atuhaire & Francis Tusiime.

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