PICTURES: Kyabazinga, Inhebantu host Muslims to special Juma prayers
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Kyabazinga Nadiope and Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi host Muslim Juma Prayers at Igenge Palace with thousands of the faithful praying for the royal couple at a historic event
JUMA PRAYERS | Thousands of Muslims have gathered at the Igenge Palace in Bugembe township of Jinja City for the Royal Juma Prayers. The event, at the invitation of Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV and Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi, comes days to the Eid al-Fitr that is will be celebrated next week.
Deputy Mufti of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Shk Ali Waiswa leads prayers (Dua) for Kyabazinga Gabula Nadiope IV and the Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi at Igenge Palace
Thousands of Muslim faithful started trekking to the hill in Bugembe as early as 9am for the event at which the Muslims are holding special Dua prayers to bless the royal couple.
The Deputy Mufti of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Sheikh Ali Waiswa, is leading the prayers to bless the Royal couple as well as for the prosperity of Busoga Kingdom at large. Significanyly, it is the last Juma Prayers of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The kingdom premier, Dr Joseph Muvawala, on Monday said the Kyabazinga has embarked on seeking devine to grace his leadership, noting that the momerable day shall serve to pray for the region’s challenges. It will mark. the first prayers to be held in the Palace since its launch.
The Juma Prayers at Igenge Palace was open to the public as long as they dressed appropriately in Muslim wear (hijab or abaya and kanzu). Several guests, including political heads of Busoga sub-region and government officials were invited as well.
The Juma Prayers and related event is being backed by the financial muscles of telecom giants MTN Uganda, who are expected to give several hampers to the Muslim faithful at the end of the day.
The Juma Prayers will be followed by the Kyabazinga Iftar dinner at Jinja’s Civil Service College on Saturday, April 6, 2024, which premier Muvawala said only invited guests will attend. The Iftar dinner is being organised by First Deputy Prime Minister nad Minister for East frican Community Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, in collaboration with the Turkish embassy.
This function is of particular importance as well as historic for Busoga because it is the first official prayers held by the Kyabazinga and Inhebantu since they tied the knot on November 18, 2023. The Kyabazinga was due to officially present Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi to the believers.
The Kyabazinga and Inhebantu welcome the guests to Igenge Palace. Gabula was born in Jinja on November 1, 1988, to Wilson Gabula Nadiope II and Josephine Nadiope, who died in 1993. Nadiope II, onetime Minister of Tourism in the Ugandan Cabinet, who died in 1991. His paternal grandfather is William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope III, who ruled as Kyabazinga from 1949 until 1955 and from 1962 until 1966.
The Muslim faithful return greetings by the royal couple. Gabula Nadiope was unanimously elected by the 10 Busoga Royal Chiefs on August 13, 2014. Following an unsuccessful last-minute court challenge, Prince William Gabula was crowned as the 4th Kyabazinga of Busoga at Bugembe on Saturday, September 13, 2014, a ceremony attended by President Museveni attended the coronation. He has since restored stability and united the kingdom.
