The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and a security team led by the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, have reached an agreement to reopen the Entebbe Mosque after it was closed for two weeks due to an internal conflict among worshippers.
The mosque’s closure followed a dispute over ownership, with allegations that a group of Muslim leaders, including Twaha Ssempebwa and Sheikh Umar Bashir, the mosque's imam, had secured a private land title for the mosque under the name Masjid Taqwa Company Limited.
The group’s decision to rename the UMSC Entebbe Mosque sparked anger among long-serving elders who have overseen the mosque since its construction in 1914 by Asian Muslims, later placing it under UMSC management in 1972.
The UMSC had previously acquired surrounding plots of land in Entebbe for development projects, including an educational center.
However, the group at the center of the dispute allegedly took control of the properties and began collecting rent without providing any accountability.
Tensions escalated when the group reportedly hired individuals to intimidate worshippers, particularly after UMSC officials considered suspending Sheikh Bashir for defiance and making false claims regarding the mosque's ownership.
Due to the mosque’s proximity to critical infrastructure, including the State House and Entebbe International Airport, UMSC requested its temporary closure for security reasons until the conflict was resolved. The decision was made to prevent further unrest that could impact the area.
A high-level meeting was convened to address the issue, attended by the Inspector General of Police, Resident District Commissioners of Wakiso and Entebbe, UMSC officials, and other stakeholders.
Key figures at the meeting included His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, and other UMSC leaders.
After extensive discussions, both parties agreed to reopen the mosque for daily worship while emphasizing the importance of peace and stability within the community.
During the meeting, UMSC National Chairperson Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira raised concerns about a similar conflict brewing in Jinja Industrial City over Muslim cemetery land.
Prof. Lubega warned that unidentified individuals, allegedly backed by some security personnel, had fenced off the cemetery, blocking access to the burial grounds.
The IGP was urged to intervene in this matter as well.
The reopening of the Entebbe Mosque is seen as a step toward restoring normalcy, though the underlying ownership dispute remains unresolved.