Mufti mourns Dr Ssentongo
The Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje has eulogized the late Dr Ashad Ssentongo as a disciplined and hardworking person whose death dealt a huge loss to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the entire nation.
Addressing mourners at Bugoye in Butambala on Monday, revealed that shortly after the 2022 UMSC elections, Sheikh Abdul Obeid Kamulegeya presented to him Hadji Abasa Mulubya Ssekyanzi and Dr Ssentongo for appointment as special nominees of the Mufti to the UMSC general assembly.
“I didn’t know Hadji Abasa, but I knew Dr Ssentongo, I didn’t hesitate to appoint him because I knew him too well. He was my former student at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and was among the very first 80 students of IUIU as mentioned by the rector,” Sheikh Mubaje said.
He noted that due to Ssentongo’s expertise and hard work, he was placed on UMSC’s planning and at the time of his death, he had written over 30 project proposals.
Sheikh Mubaje also described Dr Ssentongo as a peacemaker. “His last presentation was on religious tolerance as a solution to bigotry. His focus has been on uniting people,” he said.
He cautioned those who wish others were dead, and use funerals to push their agenda. “Whoever wishes death for another could be the first. Let’s not wish others death. We should not use funerals for other things because death unites us as humans,” he said.
Prof Muhammad Kisambira, the UMSC national chairperson, implored Muslims to stay united despite their differences.
“We might have differences in opinions because of our worldviews, levels of interpretation, and education. But we are all united under the umbrella of Shahadah. We should never forget that,” Kisambira said.
The vice chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Hajji Moses Kigongo, urged Muslims to do self-reflection before their time of death.
“It doesn’t matter how much wealth we amass on this earth, we are all going to die one day and account for our actions before our Lord. Let us do self-reflection before it is too late and mend our ways,” he added.
Dr Ashad Ssentongo was born in 1965 in Butambala. He started his lower education at Kibibi UMEA Primary School before moving to Busoga College Mwiri for his O-level. He then enrolled at Gombe Secondary School in Butambala for his A’level and joined IUIU in 1988 among the pioneer 81 students of the Mbale-based university. He is survived by two widows and seven children.
