Masaka contains Muslim factionalism.

By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi.

On Saturday October 22nd the duwa and last funeral rites of the late Sheikh Shuaib Ndugga, the former Greater Masaka Qadhi was held at his home at Bisanje in Kimaanya Kabobera Division, Masaka city.

The ceremony was presided over by the Uganda Muslim Community nominal head Prince Dr. Al Haji Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu.

Omutaka Walusimbi presided over the traditional ceremony and called upon Baganda to multiply the population by producing more children, else they will turn into a minority in their own kingdom of Buganda. He preached for polygamy among Baganda men regardless of religious norms and appealed to women to produce as many children as possible.

The function was embracing.  The Masaka District Qadhi under Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Old Kampala Sheikh Badru Huzairu Wassajja Kiruuta attended, although he left early.

God willing his instalation ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday October 29th Masaka Liberation Square Masaka city. It is expected to be presided over by Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje.

President Yoweri Museveni who was expected at the late Sheikh Ndugga’s last funeral rites, the deceased having been a close supporter and NRM is also expected at this Saturday’s ceremony as the late Sheikh Huzairu Kiruuta, former District Qadhi for Masaka for almost four decades, and father to Sheikh Badru Wassajja.

As Masaka Regional Super Qadhi, Sheikh Shuaib Ndugga was succeeded by Sheikh Sulaiti Ssentongo, who has been his assistant. An Islamic educationist and duat (Islamic propagator), Sheikh Sentongo, is a graduate hailing from Lwabaana, a predominantly Muslim village now Parish in Mijwala Sub County, Mawogola North County, Ssembabule District. He is an Islamic tutor and preacher in Greater Masaka based at Namaseenene Islamic School and Masaka main mosque.

Like his predecessor, Sheikh Ssentongo is an NRM supporter and mobilizer, right from his family background. However his working relationship cuts across political divide and enjoys fraternity with other religious leaders under  Inter Religious Council of Uganda in Masaka.

According to the Supreme Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ssemakula, the onus is now on  the Masaka Muslim community to recommend names for those to be appointed Deputy and or Assistant Super Qadhis to Sheikh Sulaiti Ssentongo.

Former District Qadhi Sheikh Bruhan Bagunduuse and her entire executive committee team under Mufti Shaban Mubajje and former Supreme Mufti Zibair Sowed Kayongo, formally  crossed  from Old Kampala UMSC to Kibuli. He contested the selling Muslim property including a UMSC ranch in Ntuusi sub county ,Ssembabule District and Nateete mission land initially belonging to Africa Muslim Community Juma Sect Bukoto Nateete sparked it off.

There is also a need to reclaim 80 acreas from Bukyolo in Masaka city that belong to Africa Muslim Community Juma Sect Bukoto Nateete which were wrongly given to former RDC Herman Sentongo by Masaka District Land Board.

This part of the land saga in former Masaka municipality now Masaka city.

Let us pray that the Kibuli based Muslim leaders in Masaka will also attend Sheikh Wassaja’s ceremony as Muslim still are questing for reconcilation and unity.  Muslim unity will contribute to national and regional integration.

Sources both at Old Kampala and Kibuli say that Kibuli preferred Sheikh Badru Wassajja for Super Qadhi but he declined to cross from Old Kampala yet in Masaka city and district Old Kampala support among Muslims is very negligible.

However, his stronghold seems to be in Kalungu District as he is based at Lukaya and his Muslim District covers Masaka city and district and Kalungu District.

The best for Muslims, Sunni or Shia, to have a national umbrella organisation devolving power to regions which should be as autonomous as possible. A Grand Mufti at national level should only be a top head. All this was recommended on Kabwegyere Report where both Kibuli and Old Kampala participated.

When Mufti Mubajje declined to set up a broad based constitutional review commission, and a broad based electoral commission, Kibuli boycotted. Unless both factions cooperate in such exercises, they will remain illegitimate.

But for Greater Masaka  community, Muslim and non Muslims alike, factionalism is containable. The rest of Uganda be should emulate.

Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and a Deputy Resident City Commissioner Masaka City in charge of Kimaanya Kabobera Division.