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African Regional News Updates |
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17 April 2009 Kampala — THE Forum for Democratic
Change (FDC) president Col. Kizza Besigye is a greedy,
desperate and power hungry politician, according to
Mufti Shaban Mubajje.
Mubajje made the remarks while addressing a
conference in his office at the Gadaffi National
Mosque in Old Kampala to react to reports that Besigye
had backed the breakaway Muslim faction headed by
Mufti Sheikh Zubair Kayongo.
Speaking to Muslims during the last funeral rites (Duwa)
prayers for the former FDC chairman, Sulaiman Kiggundu,
at Kibuli Mosque on Monday, Besigye accused Mubajje of
being dishonest to his flock when he sold Muslim
properties and lied about it.
In a reaction, Mubajje yesterday said Besigye had
been hostile to him since the formation of FDC in
2004. But he did not need Besigye's support or
recognition as the constitutional Mufti.
"Dr. Besigye may not be informed about the Uganda
Muslim Supreme Council constitution and the procedure
of electing a Mufti," Mubajje told journalists.
Mubajje asserted that it was ill-fated for Besigye,
an aspiring president, to back an illegal faction.
"Since 2001, Besigye has been losing. Why doesn't
he also declare that he is president and we see where
he ends?" Mubajje asked.
"Besigye's remarks have further confirmed my
suspicions that perhaps he holds an unfriendly secret
agenda against me as a person, the UMSC as an
institution, and peace-loving Muslims of Uganda,"
Mubajje said.
Mubajje said Besigye, the leading opposition
leader, had become sectarian. He questioned his
leadership skills.
He argued that it was dangerous for Besigye to drag
politics into religion and called upon Muslims to
reject him. "It might cost us unity and development,"
he noted.
The standoff in the Muslim community started in
2006 when Mubajje was sued over sale of Muslim
property in Kampala.
Although he won the case, the magistrate called him
a liar. This invigorated his opponents to replace him. |
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