Muslim leaders in Masaka in bitter dispute over land
by Hashim Kalungi
Muslim leaders in Masaka are embroiled in a bitter struggle over a six acre piece of land.
The Kibuli and the Old Kampala based leaderships are accusing each other of trying to take over Muslim property in the area for selfish aims.
The land that is at the centre of contention is located at Namasene hill in Nyendo Mukungwe Division in Masaka city.
The land which is currently under the control of the Kibuli leadership houses a classroom block, mosque and staff quarters of Masaka Islamic Secondary School.
According to Masaka Muslim district Kadhi under the Kibuli leadership Shiekh Sulait Ssentongo, they have information that the Old Kampala based leadership of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), is ready to sell this land if it takes it over.
Ssentongo appealed to security to intervene and stop the takeover.
He said their leadership is committed to keeping Muslim property in Masaka region from being taken over by UMSC leadership which he says has intentions of selling them, like they have done to other properties such as the Sembabule ranch which was sold to a one Justus Kyabahwa leading to a bitter fallout at UMSC.
“The land that is on verge of being sold was earmarked for a Shs 1.3billion project which is intended to for a nursing school, among other projects that were promised by Megha industries which constructed Matete mosque in Sembabule,” Ssentongo said.
He added that security assured them that they will be on their side in protecting the Muslim property in Masaka.
Ssentongo appealed to all Muslims to resist any efforts by UMSC to take over their properties arguing that whenever they have, they have ended up selling them.
Contacted for a comment, UMSC spokesperson Ashiraf Zziwa Muvawala dismissed the claims saying that those making them are simply fearful of the new leadership in Masaka which has promised to to rescue all Muslim property.
“We are aware that those people (Kibuli leaders in Masaka) were paying our leaders in the area to stop them from following up on UMSC properties but the new leadership is committed to working towards getting it back. That is what has pushed them to panic,” Zziwa said.
