Is Mubaje still Mufti of Uganda?

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A court order has granted authority to Babirye Yudaya, Burhan Namanya, and Hussein to organize a special session of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) General Assembly. This resulted in the election of a new Mufti, Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo, supposedly to replace Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje.

However, UMSC General Secretary, Hadji Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya, dismissed the election, citing that Article Five of the council’s constitution stipulates that the removal of the Mufti can only occur through a joint session of the Executive Committee and the Majlis Al-Ulama or the College of Sheikhs.

Muluubya emphasized that the UMSC is operating normally and officially recognizes only Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje as the Mufti. The confusion started when a special session, prompted by a court order, led to the suspension of both Mufti Mubaje and the organization’s National Chairperson, Dr. Mohammed Lubega.

The court order, issued by Justice Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa Ntambi of Jinja High Court, allowed the meeting to discuss the state of the UMSC and granted the power to convene the meeting to any person designated by the petitioners. Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo was elected as Acting Mufti during this session.

The meeting initiated an inquiry into the alleged sale and auctioning of Muslim mosques, including the National Mosque. Mufti Mubaje was suspended for six months to facilitate the investigation, with a committee established for this purpose.

UMSC General Secretary Muluubya described the events at Gangu Islamic schools as superficial, arguing that they deviated from the proper procedures outlined in the UMSC Constitution.

Before the special meeting, an order was issued to the UMSC leadership, which was rejected by the UMSC Advisory Council during its inaugural meeting on December 13. The council, chaired by Obed Kamulegeya, emphasized exhausting internal mechanisms before resorting to civil courts.

The controversy, seemingly sparked by allegations of property sale, reveals a power struggle within UMSC, with factions led by Hussein Bassajabala and Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje in conflict. The situation extends back to the review of the UMSC constitution, the election period, and the General Assembly in December of the previous year.

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URN