Muslim Martyrs' Day event flops amid leadership row
Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje arrives for the Muslim Martyrs Day prayers at Old Kampala Mosque on June 10, 2025. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- By midday, Old Kampala Mosque, where the event was shifted at the last minute, was nearly empty.
The Muslim fraternity yesterday largely boycotted an event organised by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) to commemorate this year’s Muslim Martyrs Day, amid accusations of mismanagement and financial impropriety.
By midday, Old Kampala Mosque, where the event was shifted at the last minute, was nearly empty, save for a few students ferried in from various Muslim schools.
The function had earlier been shunned by several Muslim clerics who questioned its credibility.
Originally, the event was meant to be held at Masjid Shuhada in Namugongo, the site believed to be associated with the Muslim martyrs.
However, the Namugongo leadership barred UMSC officials from using the site, accusing them of failing to account for Shs200 million reportedly disbursed by the government for organising the function.
Devotees are seen during the Muslim Martyrs' Day prayers at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Old Kampala on June 10, 2025. PHOTO / ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Mr Sulaiman Kigundu, the head of Hija and Umrah at Namugongo Mosque, said they had repeatedly asked UMSC to release funds to facilitate preparations but received nothing.
“UMSC told us to get service providers and pave the mosque premises with the promise of later payment. Then, without explanation, they shifted the event to Old Kampala,” Mr Kigundu said.
He added that tensions escalated after UMSC officials reportedly advised the demolition of a school on the Namugongo site, an idea rejected by the local committee since the school was not built by UMSC.
On Sunday, a group allegedly sent by UMSC arrived on motorcycles with sticks and hammers, but local leaders alerted security agencies, who deployed armed police and military personnel to protect the site.
By Monday, when UMSC inquired again whether the event could proceed at Namugongo, the leadership insisted that Shs17 million owed for site preparations must be paid upfront.
“We couldn’t allow them to proceed while leaving the mosque in debt,” said Mr Musa Nsubuga, Namugongo Mosque administrator.
Mr Nsubuga said the community had hoped to use the funds not only for the event but also to begin renovations, including a new perimeter wall.
Despite the controversy, Mufti Ramathan Mubajje, the head of UMSC, proceeded with the event at Old Kampala.
He arrived shortly after midday and the programme included sermons on the history of Muslim martyrs.
Mufti Mubajje acknowledged the change of venue and promised to address the issues.
“This year’s commemoration was supposed to be held in Namugongo, but we failed to prepare the space in time,” he said, citing delayed financial support.
He said the Namugongo site is earmarked as a national site for Muslim heritage and a 13-member national organising committee had been established for future commemorations.
“We couldn’t postpone the event because the date had already been fixed,” he said.
Pupils of Ndejje Quality Schools performing during the Muslim Martyrs' Day prayers at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Old Kampala on June 10, 2025. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, who represented President Museveni at the event, cautioned against mixing politics with religion.
She emphasised that the Muslim martyrs’ legacy was real and deserved national recognition.
She added that the government’s limited funding for Muslim commemorations is partly due to a lack of awareness and urged Muslims to mobilise and educate others about their history.
“When we asked for funds in Cabinet, some thought we were inventing a story. That’s why Muslims often receive less support,” she said.
Muslim martyrs
Sheikh Kigundu said 75 Muslims were executed on orders of Kabaka Mutesa I after refusing to eat meat prepared by non-circumcised individuals, which they viewed as unclean under Islamic law.
Their rejection was seen as defiance of the Kabaka’s authority.
“There are factions in Buganda—some recognise Muslim martyrs, others don’t. But these events are part of our faith’s history,” he said.
