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Ugandan Muslim Leader Warns Police As Court Blocks Rival Mufti Kayongo
8 July 2009
Kampala — Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Baate has warned the Police and other security officers against disorganising the visits of rival Mufti Zubairi Kayongo and interfering in Islamic issues.
Muzaata is one of the leaders of the Kibuli-based Muslim breakaway faction. "Most of these security officers are non-Muslims and they do not know what we are fighting for," Muzaata said.
He said most of the security officers were influenced by Mufti Sheikh Shaban Mubajje who did not want Kayongo to expose the wrongs he committed.
At the beginning of the year, a section of Muslims denounced Mubajje after accusing him of selling Muslim property. They selected Kayongo as their mufti.
Muzaata complained that some officers entered mosques when they were drunk, which he said was a taboo in Islam. Muzaata was speaking at the Itendero Mosque on Friday after the Police stopped Kayongo from addressing Muslims at Itendero Primary School.
Kayongo's supporters, who organised the venue, were shocked to find their tents had been removed and the Police telling them that no one was allowed to address a rally at the school.
Kayongo later addressed hundreds of his supporters at the mosque in Itendero. He thanked the Government for not interfering in Islamic issues. Kayongo said he wanted to recover the properties that were sold.
Court Blocks Rival Mufti Kayongo
The High Court has stopped rival Mufti Sheikh Zubair Kayongo from appointing district Kadhis, imams and other officials until a case challenging his status is decided.
The court also said Kayongo cannot appoint clergymen parallel to those of Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje.
However, he is free to visit mosques across the country, like any other sheikh, Justice Yorokamu Bamwine ruled yesterday.
The case had been filed by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, which argued that Kayongo was acting illegally since he was not the Mufti. The council, therefore, wanted the court to permanently stop Kayongo, who insists he is a super mufti, from discharging the duties of a mufti, such as visiting mosques, appointing and firing clergymen.
The court shattered Kayongo's dreams by insisting there was only one mufti. "The Mufti of Uganda shall remain one as per the Constitution of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council," Bamwine said.
The hearing of the petition starts on September 8, 2009. Yesterday, Peter Kusiima, the council's lawyer, said Kayongo was confusing Muslims. He cited an example of an incident on January 28, 2009, when, he said, Kayongo disregarded Mufti Mubajje by installing rival imams and district kadhis.
Kayongo's actions, which span five months, have at times resulted in violent confrontation. The row erupted two years ago after some sheikhs accused Mubajje of fraudulently selling Muslim property in Kampala and denying doing so. Mubajje and two other senior officials were acquitted by the Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate.
However, the court said Mubajje had repeatedly lied to the Muslim community that he had not sold the properties. Armed with this judgment, Mubajje's opponents declared Kayongo as the new mufti.
The differences between Mubajje and Kayongo date back to 2000, when Mubajje was elected. Shortly after, Kayongo and some other senior sheikhs denounced the election. The group included Sheikh Obeid Kamulegeya, who is a top anti-Mubajje critic based in Kibuli, Kampala.
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