Sheikh Ssemambo lobbies Parliament to isolate Mubaje
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) splinter group headed by sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo has written to the Parliament of Uganda to isolate the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje.
In a February 19, 2024 signed by Hajj Isaa Gule who describes himself as the acting UMSC chairman, the Parliament is informed that Ssemambo is acting Mufti of Uganda since December 17, 2023 when Mubaje was retired in public interest.
“We request that you bar Sheikh Mubaje from official representation of the Muslim faith in Government and not to honour any communications signed by him on behalf of the Muslims of Uganda,” the letter reads in part.
The letter adds that Ssemambo has got a track record of good leadership having previously served the UMSC in many capacities including being the 1st Deputy Mufti of Uganda with remarkable performance.
Gule states in the letter that Sheikh Ssemambo has duly communicated the willingness to listen and fully cooperate with the Government of Uganda while executing his duties as a mufti.
The letter also informs Parliament that Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC national Chairman was also suspended from office effective December 19, 2023 in order to pave way for investigations into his alleged lack of the mandatory qualifications, incompetence and abuse of office.
In the letter, Ssemambo’s group is also requesting support from Parliament for the peaceful transition of leadership at UMSC.
“We request that you allow a motion to be tabled on the floor of Parliament in support of the Muslim peaceful cause to address mismanagement of Muslim properties and other affairs pertaining to the faith,” the letter further reads.
In the letter, Parliament is also requested to communicate the changes at UMSC to the President and relevant stakeholders.
“Right Honorable Speaker, the instant action of the UMSC general assembly to retire Mubaje in public interest is justified by the manifestations of abuse of office including insubordination of the general assembly yet it is the highest governing body in the UMSC structures and unauthorized selling of Muslim properties among others,” the letter reads.
Gule notes in the letter that Muftiship in Islam is spiritual rather than administrative and there is no way the general assembly would have left a spiritual matter hanging pending protracted court proceedings.
“I have an obligation to bring to the attention of the respected Parliament that Sheikh Mubaje’s delayed handover of office is likely to cause a national catastrophe that may lead to bloodshed at UMSC headquarters.”
The matter over the leadership row at UMSC is pending before Jinja High Court.
Genesis of Ssemambo’s claims to the Office of Mufti
The current crisis at UMSC arises from the sale of the Ssembabule Muslim land. On June 24, 2020, UMSC sold land comprising LRV 3693 folio 12 ranch number 31A measuring 518 hectares at Ssembabule to businessman Justus Kyabahwa at sh3.5b.
The sale agreement was signed on June 24, 2020 between the parties and Kyabahwa paid sh3.5b to the UMSC subject to a 12% interest per month in case the UMSC failed to handover the land to him.
After UMSC and Kyabahwa entered into the agreement, Enterprise Holdings Limited owned by businessman Albert Muganga dragged UMSC, Mubaje, Dr Abdul-Kadir Balonde, the ex-UMSC chairman and Haji Ramathan Mugalu, the ex-UMSC secretary general to Masaka High Court stating that it had a running lease of 15 years on it, which it had secured from Sembabule Muslim district council and that it had also entered into a sale agreement with the UMSC and paid sh280m.
On December 24, 2022, Justice Victoria Nakintu Katamba, issued an order, compelling UMSC to transfer the certificate of title to Enterprise Uganda Limited upon payment of sh620m unpaid contractual price at an interest rate of 24% per annum since 2017 to finalise the transaction.
Consequently, Kyabahwa through his lawyers filed a summary suit at the commercial court seeking recovery of his money in addition to 12% interest per month as contained in the sale agreement.
On August 7, commercial court judge Grace Harriet Magala ordered UMSC to pay Ush19b to Kyabahwa but in vain, prompting the registrar to order for attachment of several USMC properties including the Gaddafi national mosque.
The Court of Appeal has since halted the planned attachment of the UMSC properties pending determination of the appeal by UMSC.
Nonetheless, the matter created sharp divisions within the UMSC ranks, leading to the holding of the controversial general assembly meeting in Gangu, Wakiso district.
