by Haji A
shraf zziwa
Muslim leaders from the Ankole-Kigezi Muslim Region paid homage to His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, on August 21st, 2024, at the UMSC headquarters in Old Kampala.
The delegation, led by Sheikh Abdu-Karim Abdallah Katamba, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti, included all eleven District Kadhis, Members of the General Assembly, District Chairpersons, District Secretaries, elders, and opinion leaders. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Katamba expressed that their visit was a demonstration of loyalty, compassion, and allegiance, as well as a profound expression of gratitude to Mufti Mubaje for his leadership in revitalizing the UMSC after decades of stagnation and darkness.
“Your Eminence, you have visited our region countless times. So, this time, we thought it appropriate to reciprocate by visiting you,” Sheikh Katamba remarked.
Sheikh Katamba reassured the Mufti that Muslims from the Ankole-Kigezi region are peaceful and united, which has enabled them to successfully construct several new mosques, schools, and boreholes for providing safe water to communities. Meanwhile, Sheikh Kaabu Lule, the Kadhi of Kabale Muslim District, praised the Mufti for the significant developments he has overseen at the UMSC headquarters, including the improved image of the Council. The delegation also highlighted several challenges in their region, including land grabbing, the illegal transfer of schools into private associations, non-operational health facilities, and limited access to international scholarships offered through the UMSC. They also distanced themselves from a small group of Kampala-based individuals known for causing unnecessary confusion among the Muslim faithful.
Hon. Sophie Safina Kenyangi, the National Chairperson of the Muslim Council from the Ankole-Kigezi region, paid special tribute to Mufti Mubaje’s administration for amending the UMSC constitution to include Muslim women in leadership roles for the first time since the formation of UMSC in 1972. She called on Muslim leaders to empower women through developmental programs such as the recently launched UMSC Agro Business enterprise. Hon. Prof. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC National Chairperson, and Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi, the UMSC Secretary General, emphasized the importance of development, particularly the implementation of the multi-million-dollar Agro Business program aimed at large-scale production of coffee, cocoa, sheep, and goats across the ten Muslim regions. In his speech, Hadji Muluubya cautioned Muslim leaders against transacting any property with donors or individuals without following the procedures outlined in the UMSC constitution, addressing the issue of rampant property grabbing by unscrupulous individuals.
The speeches were concluded by His Eminence Mufti Mubaje, who expressed his delight and reiterated his message of unity and development, which he has championed for the past twenty years. He acknowledged the challenges his administration has faced, including provocation, hostile propaganda, and personal insults, but emphasized that he has always chosen to respond with patience and a sense of Islamic brotherhood.
“This has allowed us to reach out to hostile individuals who have since returned to the fold of UMSC,” Mufti Mubaje observed.
Mufti Mubaje also highlighted the significant progress his administration has made in areas such as infrastructure, communication, health, education, and income-generating projects. He outlined the next steps, which involve expanding these programs to the regions and eventually down to the lowest UMSC structures. Regarding the issue of international scholarships, Mufti Mubaje explained that scholarships from Sudan and Egypt were halted due to various factors, including ongoing civil wars and logistical challenges. “I was recently in Cairo, Egypt, where I met a group of twenty Ugandan students who were stranded without accommodation or meals after traveling there on their own. They were struggling to get admitted to Al-Azhar University. On behalf of the UMSC, we extended $600 to support them for the next six months. In the near future, we plan to engage Sheikh Al-Azhar, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, to reinstate more scholarships for us,” Mufti Mubaje said.
Before departure, the leaders donated several gifts to the Mufti, including a Friesian cow, two packs of five liters of honey, a bunch of green bananas, and chickens.
Members of the UMSC National Management Committee were also present at the event.
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