UMSC: Why we kept away from Menk’s program

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has distanced itself from the behind-the-scenes fights that characterized renowned Zimbabwean Muslim scholar and preacher, Mufti Ismail Musa Menk’s recent visit to Uganda.

According to Hadji Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya, the UMSC secretary general, the Muslim body was not involved in the planning and organization of Menk’s third visit to Uganda, but got involved after “the main sponsor based in Gulu insisted that UMSC had to be consulted.”

Muluubya did not clarify who the Gulu-based sponsor is but sources close to the organisers have pointed at President Yoweri Museveni’s brother, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh who is said to have covered about 85 percent of the total budget.

UMSC was to be called in again to arbitrate between the key players namely, Thurayya Islam Media, Kuwe Foundation, Biggie Events and Weli Travel.

“The parties involved got into a disagreement a few days before the arrival of the guest [Mufti Menk]. Somewhere, money was involved, and Thuraya was being thrown out. In fact, Thurayya threatened court action,” Muluubya said.

Available information indicates that Thurayya Islam Media got angry after Mariam Mutakubwa, the proprietor of Biggie Events brought on board Next Media Ltd – the parent company for Salam TV and NBS TV. As if that was not enough, Mutakubwa produced promotional materials announcing Salam TV as the official broadcaster of the Mufti Menk tour.

The initial planning for Menk’s “Muslim Youths and Work Ethic” tour is understood to have been done by Thurayyah’s Abdulrahman Mawejje and Umar Kuwe of Kuwe Foundation but along the way involved Mutakubwa given her experience in events management.

Under her brand name, Biggie Events, Mutakubwa reportedly paid Thurayyah and Kuwe to take over full rights.

“She later brought in Weli Travel and Next Media before reaching out to Gen Saleh, Ham [Hamis Kiggundu] and Balaam [Barugahare of Balaam Events],” a source said.

THREATS

Uncomfortable with the declaration of Salam TV as the official broadcaster, Mawejje reportedly reached out to Salam TV’s Hajji Karim Kaliisa and threatened to sue them for “hijacking” his activity. Kaliisa immediately reached out to Mutakubwa who assured him that Thurayyah did not have any legal claim to the Menk tour since she had fully paid the company.

“If anyone is to sue for anything, it is me to take legal action against Thurayyah for threatening my clients,” Mutakubwa is quoted to have told Kaliisa.

According to Muluubya, these disagreements were taken before the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje who according to a separate source advised Mawejje to stay out of the program.

“I am out of the Menk program because there are so many things going on that I don’t understand. For instance, I am wondering how [socialite Frank] Gashumba and Balaam got involved among others. I put whatever I could with clear Niyyah for Islam, Allah will reward me,” Thurayyah’s Mawejje told The Friday Call on March 7.  

Muluubya said that during the engagements, UMSC categorically informed the organisers that it was not interested in usurping their guest or program. He added that on Friday, March 8, Mubaje travelled to Katakwi for the National Women’s Day celebrations but left behind a team of UMSC officials to receive Mufti Menk who was scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to the UMSC headquarters.

“We have offered the organizers all the support requested, including resource mobilization. We were aware that he was to conduct Jumah prayers at Nabisunsa Girls School and had no problem with that,” Muluubya said.