Mufti Mubaje’s appeal towards Kyankwanzi Muslim District Leaders

Mufti Hosts Kyankwanzi Muslim District Leaders

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, was a busy day for His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, as he engaged in his daily routine of receiving guests and delegations. In the evening, he welcomed a delegation of Muslim leaders from the Kyankwanzi Muslim District, led by the Kadhi, Sheikh Abdul-Majid Kiringa Mulinda. The delegation included Hon. Sheikh Ziyadi Mpoza, the District representative to the UMSC General Assembly; Madam Nassali Halima, the Woman Representative to East Buganda Muslim Region; County Sheikhs; the District Vice Chairman; community elders; and representatives from women’s and youth groups.
Sheikh Mulinda explained that their visit aimed to engage with the Mufti and update him on the district’s current affairs. Salongo Ssettabi Sulaiman Abdullah presented a detailed report, highlighting significant achievements such as the construction of new mosques and the identification of a historical site where the late Nuhu Rashid Kalema, the Muslim Buganda Monarch, was initially buried before being reinterred at Mende in Wakiso District. The delegation requested financial support from the UMSC to develop the site for tourism purposes.
Salongo Ssettabi also mentioned their dealings with Beena Charity Organization, which had initially agreed to fund the construction of the district head office and a mosque on UMSC land in Lwamagaali. However, they later discovered that the organization had transferred the land documents into its name without their consent and had failed to fulfill its funding commitment. They expressed concern that the charity might dispose of the land and asked the Mufti for assistance in safeguarding their interests.
Additionally, they appealed to the Mufti to lobby for a vehicle for the Kadhi from the President and to support efforts to establish a secondary school in the district, which they currently lack. Hon. Sheikh Ziyadi Mpoza echoed these requests and emphasized the need to protect the land from illegal acquisition. Together with Madam Nassali Halima, he also urged the Mufti to visit Kyankwanzi, noting that his motorcade often passes through the district on the way to Bunyoro. “Your Eminence, Muslims are eager to welcome you because many only see or hear about you through media channels,” he remarked, bringing a smile to the Mufti’s face, indicating his acceptance of the invitation.
Madam Nassali appealed to the Mufti to support aspiring Muslim politicians and requested his prayers for her candidacy in the upcoming national elections as Woman Member of Parliament for Kyankwanzi District, a remark that drew laughter from the gathering.
In response, Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi, the UMSC Secretary General, asked the leaders to provide his office with documentation related to their funding proposal. He also encouraged them to mobilize followers for the upcoming celebration of the UMSC’s 52nd anniversary, established in 1972.
In his welcoming remarks, Mufti Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje expressed joy at receiving the delegation. He shared the UMSC’s progress and challenges since he assumed office and responded positively to their requests. The Mufti noted that the request for a vehicle for the Kadhi and the development of the tourism site would be considered after verifying land ownership. He assured them that the UMSC would forward the school project proposal to the relevant authorities.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Imran Abdnoor Ssali, Secretary for Religious Affairs, and Sheikh Muhammad Murshid Luwemba, Secretary for Dawah (Islamic Propagation).

Zziwa Ashiraf
UMSC Spokesperson.