UMSC asks gov’t to withdraw official passports from UBHA bosses

By Our Reporter

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has, in a dramatic turn of events, asked government to withdraw diplomatic and service passports held by some senior officials of the Uganda Bureau of Hajj Affairs (UBHA).

On February 4, the UMSC secretary-general, Abbasi Ssekyanzi Muluubya, wrote  to Gen. Kahinda Otafire, the minister of Internal Affairs, to inform him of the council’s decision to rescind its recommendation for Hussein Twaib Bogere to be issued an official passport.

“The purpose of this letter is to formally withdraw our recommendation for the above named individual and a one Zakaria Kyewalyanga of Mityana. The responsibilities they were undertaking on behalf of UMSC have since ended. Consequently, the basis on which the recommendations were made is no longer applicable,” Mulyuuba wrote.

“In view of the foregoing, we respectfully request the recall of their official and/or diplomatic passports as our recommendations are no longer valid,” he added.

Kyewalyanga heads UBHA as chairman while Bogere is the general secretary. The duo has been instrumental in foiling UMSC’s attempt to take control of the management of  Hajj processes for Ugandan pilgrims.

Insider sources at UMSC have told The Friday Call that the move was prompted by what they described as ingratitude by the two UBHA officials towards the UMSC leadership.

“They have been using recommendations from UMSC but at the same time blackmail the leadership,” the source said.

Relatedly, UMSC has also petitioned the State House Anti-Corruption unit to investigate the UBHA leaders over alleged mismanagement of Hajj funds. The Council asked the Unit to probe UBHA over embezzlement of funds, corruption and issuing visas to non-Ugandans.