23/06/2022
M***i Embarks On Settling Disputes in Muslim Districts
His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the M***i of Uganda has started touring Muslim districts marred by leadership disputes to try and find a lasting solution to the conflicts ahead of the forthcoming nationwide Muslim polls mid this year. Sheikh Mubaje kicked off the reconciliation tours in Kumi Muslim District under Eastern Muslim Region on Tuesday.
During his visit, the M***i was greeted by two parallel camps allied to the Kadhi Sheikh Abdu-Wahab Kauta who had gathered with his supporters close to Kumi Muslim District Council offices while the Chairperson, Abdallah Ebokorait had converged with his team under a tree in the compound of Kumi Township Primary School.
It was later agreed that the two groups meet in an open space in the compound of Kumi Muslim District Council Offices in a meeting chaired by the M***i. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Mubaje told the attentive Council Members that for long he had heard and sent officers from the UMSC Headquarters to establish the cause of the seemingly endless disputes among the Muslim faithfuls in the district.
He explained that from the documents gathered, he identified various areas of conflicts that included management of Muslim Land and property, the position of Kumi District Chairman, disputes on the gazetted number of Muslim counties, pending Court Cases between the Kadhi and several Muslims, and lastly the pending impeachment of Sheikh Abdu-Wahab Kauta.
The M***i opened the floor for open discussion by the members. A number of speakers pinned Sheikh Kauta for being selfish and targeting large acreage of prime Muslim land in the heart of Kumi Town and part houses Kumi Township Primary School. First to take to the floor was Joseph Omonget, the PTA Chairperson of Kumi Township Primary School. He spoke at length about the acrimony between the School Administration and District Kadhi about the funds paid by Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA as compensation for encroaching on the school land during the tarmacking of Kumi-Palisa High Way.
He explained that Sheikh Kauta agreed in writing that the money was to be deposited on School Bank Account but later changed his mind that the compensation money goes to his personal Bank account, a proposal the school rejected. Omonget explained that Shillings 44million was remitted to the school account, which they used to fence the School and renovate some classroom blocks.
When tasked to explain why they don't allow the Kadhi to get involved in the School activities as the representative of the foundation body, Omonget only kept repeating himself that School belongs to Muslims so they are ready to cooperate with the Office at a later stage.
Several Muslims who spoke with supporting documents, especially from Sheikh Kauta’s camp, implicated a clique of the so-called concerned Muslims who claim to be fighting for the protection of Muslim properties, yet they have personalized, rented, or sold off some plots of land in disregard of the UMSC constitutional provisions. They noted that this group is very hostile and adamant when questioned about the accountability of the funds collected.
When tasked to respond to the accusation, some of the implicated Muslims went defensive and contradicted each other while referring to themselves as members of an independent entity called Kumi Municipal Muslim Community. They also denied authoring a Dec 12th, 2016 letter addressed to the M***i claiming to have exited from the UMSC
" no portion of the land at the main Mosque was sold. In fact, we are now trying to develop and we are in process of getting a land title in the names Kumi Municipal Muslim Community and UMSC" said Ibrahim Okiria, the Mosque Committee chairperson. When queried if he was aware that the said Property solely belongs to UMSC so that there is no way their private association would be a co-owner with UMSC. He was also asked whether they made consultations with relevant UMSC Offices at the headquarters to which, he answered in the negative. Surprisingly, Abdi Yunus Anwar, who claimed to have been born in the area and was more conversant with land issues contradicted the chairperson. He clearly admitted that he even participated in one of the transactions where a plot of land was sold.
On the issue of the Kumi Muslim District Chairman, Sheikh Kauta submitted that their joint session Committee had appointed one individual who unfortunately wasn't present to fill the gap. He, however, failed to point out the provisions of the UMSC, which they based their decision on. As a result, the UMSC Secretary General Hon. Ramathan Mugalu explained that the decision contravened the UMSC constitution, saying it couldn’t stand. Haj Mugalu explained in detail how one Abdallah Ebokorait's election as the District Council Chairman was legally elected under the supervision of the UMSC Electoral Commission.
Another contentious issue was the number of counties in the district. Sheikh Kauta explained that the district comprises 9 Muslim counties while the rival group insists that there are 4. The M***i ruled that the 5 counties constituted by the District Kadhi need to be formalized by the Council. He noted that they can use the available time to convene the council and ractify the decision before the pending elections.
On the pending Court Cases and imprisonment of several Muslims allegedly masterminded by the Kadhi, Sheikh Kauta justified the decision and described his opponents as ungodly, “These people are good at telling lies and don't fear Almighty Allah” Sheikh Kauta emphasized. His statement seemed to have surprised the M***i, who reminded him that as religious leaders , they are in the footsteps of Prophets, it is one of their duties to instill divine values that enable their followers to be God Conscious.
The M***i noted that while he has had several opponents, he has never thought of imprisoning or dragging any of them to the court despite their endless attacks. He noted that he has instead made efforts to reach out to those opposed to his leadership, which has led to the recent reconciliation where they even share a cup of tea. “You would have consulted me before you instituted such court cases and these are minor issues that can be ironed out like brothers," the M***i remarked.
Sheikh Kauta also denied receiving a petition for his alleged impeachment as district Kadhi, which drew mixed reactions from the majority of his listeners. The M***i noted that a successful impeachment only comes when conclusive evidence is tabled without reasonable doubt. It is at this juncture that the M***i noted that he has been going to Kumi for the last 35 years. "I know Kumi very well. You lacked qualified Sheikhs. It seems you want to develop a culture of chasing Muslim Scholars yet you cannot fill the gaps. Let the status quo remain as of now because I can't afford to appoint an angel,” Sheikh Mubaje emphasized.
He noted that the complainants had failed to adduce evidence implicating Sheikh Kauta for being arrogant, failing to listen to advice, and selling Muslim property. Sheikh Mubaje asked Sheikh Kauta to apologize withdraw the charges and court case against his accusers for the sake of restoring the Muslim brotherhood , which he did and Sheikh Mubaje pledged to extend financial support on behalf of UMSC to cover the court costs. He asked the two parties to bury their hatchet and forgive one another to, which they agreed
Lastly, using his powers, the M***i constituted a six-man team to probe into all Muslim property and land and report to his office within two months. He gave the team power to co-opt any technical personnel to render them help to that effect. The committee is led by Mr. Musa Lukwiya, the UMSC Secretary of Awqaf (endowment). The members are Yusuf Odiket, Sulaiman Okedi, Ismail Higenyi, Abdu Azziz Ongodia, and Abdi Yunus Anwar
Government officials presented led by Haj Imran Muluga, the Bukedi Resident District Commissioner, his Kumi counterpart, Ichila Rex, and Kumi Mayor, Richard Ochomu expressed gratitude for the move meant to restore sanity within the Muslim Community and cautioned them never to wash their dirty linen in public. They urged them to remain peaceful, saying their offices will respect all the decisions reached. The Kumi RDC tabled the M***i's request to reopen the Kadhi’s office before the Muslim District Council, which unanimously approved it. Sheikh Kauta later shook hands with Ebokorait.
In attendance were UMSC Members of the Management including Hon Ramathan Mugalu Secretary General, Sheikh Muhammad Murshid Luwemba Secretary for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Munir Ssebintu, In charge of Halal, Mr. Lukwiya Musa Secretary for Awqaf (endowment) and Mulangira Habibu Musa Mawanda, the Personal Private Secretary to M***i, Hon. Haj Ali Ahmed Mazrui Executive Committee Member, Sheikh Ahmad Hamid Wadenga, the Kadhi Eastern Muslim Region, and Sheikh Isa Masaba Pole, the Kadhi Bugisu Muslim District among others
