Parliament Imam calls for responsible preaching

By Issa Kigongo

The Imam of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, Kaka Lubega Ismail Uthuman, has urged Muslim scholars and religious leaders to exercise restraint and wisdom when preaching and handling disagreements within the Muslim community.

Lubega, also Kakuuto County MP, said the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom should not be treated as a licence to incite violence, promote discrimination, defame others, issue threats or disrupt public order.

Speaking at a press conference, he noted that Islam has a long history in Uganda and that Muslims have made significant contributions to education, healthcare, business, social welfare, public service and national development.

He said concerns over the language and conduct of some Muslim religious leaders should therefore be addressed through reflection and accountability, rather than being viewed as an attack on Islamic scholars.

“This concern should not be interpreted as an attack on our scholars. On the contrary, it should be understood as a call to responsibility, reflection and self-accountability,” he said.

Lubega urged Muslim preachers to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah in their approach to Da’wah, particularly by using wisdom, good instruction and respectful engagement.

He cited Qur’an 16:125, which calls on believers to invite people to the way of Allah with wisdom and good instruction and to engage others in the best manner.

He said wisdom also requires a preacher to consider what to say, when to say it, where to say it and how to say it.

Lubega further cited the example of Prophet Musa and his brother Harun, who were instructed by Allah to speak gently to Pharaoh despite his oppression and tyranny.

“If Allah instructed Musa and Harun to speak gently to Pharaoh, how much more should we consider our language when speaking to our fellow Muslims, our neighbours and our communities?” he asked.

He stressed, however, that gentleness does not mean abandoning Islamic teachings or failing to challenge wrongdoing.

“A Sheikh can be firm without being abusive. A Sheikh can correct without humiliating. A Sheikh can condemn an action without destroying the dignity of a person,” he said.

A CALL TO MUSLIM LEADERSHIP

Lubega appealed to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), the Office of the Mufti, regional and district Muslim leaders, Islamic institutions, councils of scholars and Imams to address concerns about the conduct and preaching methods of some religious leaders.

He called for those involved in disputes to be engaged, counselled and reconciled and, where necessary, for appropriate institutional action to be taken in line with Islamic principles and established procedures.

He also urged scholars to make Tawheed; the oneness of Allah, the foundation of their message and to avoid unnecessary insults, personal attacks and turning every disagreement into confrontation.

AN APPEAL TO UGANDANS

Lubega said Muslims have a responsibility to contribute to peace, morality, social responsibility, justice and national unity.

“As Muslims, we are part of the wider Ugandan family. Our callings must contribute to peace, morality, social responsibility, justice and national unity. We are people who build bridges rather than burning them,” he said.

He said mosques should remain places where people find guidance, knowledge, repentance, hope and brotherhood.

Lubega added that his office would advocate for appropriate standards, guidelines and institutional mechanisms governing Da’wah, public preaching and the conduct of Muslim religious leaders, while respecting constitutional freedom of worship and the independence of recognised Muslim institutions.