Sheikh Ssemambo to carryout nationwide mobilisation tours

By Isa Kigongo

Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo, a leader of a faction of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is to carry out a nationwide mobilization tour to not only solicit for support but also mobilize resources needed to take over leadership.

Speaking to The Friday Call, Hajji Abdul Kiyimba one of the key people in the Ssemambo breakaway faction said the tours are also aimed at get coordinators from across the country.

Kiyimba said as they await the court ruling on the legality of what was done last year in Ggangu where Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje was replaced by Ssemambo as the Mufti of Uganda, they must mobilise Muslims to start contributing to the activities of his office.

Kiyimba said they are going to start with getting regional coordinators and later they will move to each district.

“We are going to meet Muslims in different regions and later Sheikh Ssemambo will visit them. We want to get coordinators who will propagate our message. We also want Muslims to contribute in whatever way they can; financially or otherwise,” Kiyimba said.

He added that its important that Sheikh Mubaje is replaced as the mufti because every day he spends in the seat, it affects Muslims negatively.

Kiyimba said the decision by the court to stay the implementation of replacing Mubaje was just a temporary setback but he was optimistic that they will have the last laugh when court its final decision.

Contacted for a comment, UMSC public relations officer Ashraf Muvawala Zziwa cautioned the public against contributing anything to Ssemambo and his group.

“I urge the public not to entertain this campaign. Do not give any coin to this group of failures,” Muvawala said.

It should be recalled that an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of UMSC sat at Ggangu last year and suspended Sheikh Mubaje as the mufti and in his place, it elected his then deputy Sheikh Ssemambo.

However, the High court stayed the implementation of the change in leadership until it determines the substantive challenge to the process that led to the selection of Sheikh Ssemambo.

The leadership of UMSC was in turmoil last year over the sale of the Ssembabule Muslim ranch. In a sales agreement, UMSC had to handover the square mile ranch to businessman Justus Kyabahwa, after receiving over Shs 3 billion.

However, this did not happen and hence triggered a clause in the agreement that required to pay back the money with interest. In the ensuing controversy, Kyabahwa got a court order that among others allowed the auctioning of the national mosque.

This is what prompted a section of leaders at UMSC to seek to replace Sheikh Mubaje for among others signing an agreement with clauses that were so antithetical to sharia.