Leadership turmoil rocks Masaka Muslims as new Amir is installed
By Hashim Kalungi
The Muslim community in Masaka district finds itself at a critical juncture, plunged into a period of uncertainty and division following the dramatic and contentious installation of Sheikh Muhammad Haroona Mwebe as the new district Amir last Friday.
The ceremony, presided over by the Amir Ummah, Sheikh Yunus Muhamad Kamoga, at Nyendo Masijid Salaf-Kalina, was not the unifying event leaders might have hoped for, but rather the culmination of a week of swirling rumours, internal rebellion, and allegations of procedural malpractice that have exposed deep divisions within the local chapter of the Jamuiyyat Tabliq Daawa Assalafiyya (JTDS).
The installation of Sheik Mwebe arrives barely a week after the shocking and reportedly irregular suspension of the former district Amir, Sheikh Abudallah Mutazidwa. The opaque nature of his removal, described by several members of his now-former executive as being “marred by irregularities,” sent shockwaves through the community.
The development caught many, including Mutazidwa’s entire executive committee, completely off guard.
This sense of bewilderment quickly turned into active resistance as these loyal executives made frantic, last-ditch efforts to bargain for a stay of Sheikh Mwebe’s installation. They argued passionately that a proper, constitutionally mandated procedure for the removal of a sitting Amir had been blatantly ignored. Their pleas, however, fell on deaf ears, and the installation proceeded as planned, leaving a significant portion of the community feeling disenfranchised and their concerns dismissed.
In the eye of this storm, the newly installed Sheik Mwebe struck a tone of humble acceptance and piety.
In his leadership acceptance speech, he directly addressed the whispers of ambition and lobbying that had preceded his appointment, vehemently denying any personal pursuit of the office.
“Let no one lie to you that I lobbied anyone to get this position because it’s discouraged in our faith,” he stated, positioning himself as a reluctant servant leader.
“Since I did not ask for this office, I am optimistic that Allah will enable me do my leadership duties and I will always be obedient to the amir because we are encouraged to respect leaders among us,” he added.
Sheikh Mwebe promised a leadership style driven by broad consultations and consensus-building within his yet-to-be-appointed executive committee, and he was quick to applaud the service of the outgoing leadership, assuring them their work would be remembered.
However, the narrative offered by the national JTDS leadership presented a starkly different picture of the preceding week’s events. In a move that aimed to reframe the controversy, Jamuiyyat secretary general Jamil Ibrahim Mayengo addressed the gathered crowd with a surprising revelation. He claimed that Sheikh Abdullah Mutazindwa had not been suspended at all but had in fact been ‘promoted’ to the position of Regional Amir for the greater Masaka region and would now serve as the region’s representative on the Shuura, the highest consultative council within the JTDS.
Sheikh Yunus Kamoga used the platform to call for unity and respect for authority – reminding the Tabligh of their responsibility to respect the Amir Ummah. Sheikh Kamoga also insisted there are no factions within the Jamuiyyat Tabliq Daawa Assalafiyya (JTDS).
He charged Sheikh Mwebe with the task of healing divisions and uniting the Muslim community amidst the challenges they face.
In a pronouncement, he declared the Nyendo Masijid Salaf-Kalina as the new official district headquarters for the Salaf sect. He also announced that he would return to Masaka to conduct a formal swearing-in ceremony for Sheikh Mwebe.
