Juma – Zukuli wrangles: CID investigates Sheikh Lunanoba over missing funds
By Ahmed Idriss
Sheikh Muhammad Abdul-noor Lunanoba, the deposed president-general of the Juma–Zukuli Muslim group is in fresh trouble after the police instituted criminal investigations against him and other former members of the group’s management committee for alleged misappropriation, forgery, and unlawful disposal of property. The former management committee had, Jamal Sebuta Malende, Haji Mawazi Lulagala, Lukuman Malende, Hussein Kaggwa, Erias Seviri and Abbas Mugambe.
They were scheduled to appear before the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) Commander for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, Henry Mugumya, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 9 a.m.
“KMP CID Headquarters is investigating the alleged misappropriation of trustee funds, forgery, and unlawful disposal of trustee property in various parts of the country for Juma Zukuli Moslem Group under your stewardship dating from 2001-2024 totalling approximately Shs 5 billion,” the summonses issued by the police read in part.
Trouble for the group dates back to 2022, when Sheikh Muhamad Kasamba Tiwayilika, Ismail Kikabi, Adam Kibama and Haji Elias Takuba dragged Sheikh Lunanoba and Al-Hajji J. A Sebuta Malende to court accusing them of overstaying in office, failure to account for the group’s property and finances, and inability to call a general assembly for over twenty years. Malende was the group’s secretary-general.
On September 7, the group, acting on Justice Musa Ssekaana’s orders, convened a general assembly which resulted in the election of a new management committee led by Sheikh Musa Kabuye and Sheikh Sufiyan Muguluma as president general and deputy president general respectively.
Lunaanoba’s supporters disputed the outcome, citing irregularities and unfairness. They claimed that many of their members were denied entry to the assembly and vowed not to recognise the new leadership.
A few weeks later, they petitioned the Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija, accusing Ssekaana of bias. They demanded that Zeija reallocate the case to another judge on the grounds that Ssekaana is biased and conflicted.
