Ankole-Kigezi Muslim leaders denounce illicit transfer of schools to private groups
Muslim leaders from the Ankole-Kigezi region have raised concern about the unauthorized transfer of schools to private associations, non-functional health facilities, and escalating cases of land usurpation.
These worries were articulated during a gathering with Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Old Kampala.
Keep Reading
The delegation, spearheaded by Sheikh Abdu-Karim Abdallah Katamba, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti, comprised eleven District Kadhis, General Assembly members, District Chairpersons, District Secretaries, elders, and opinion leaders.
The leaders voiced profound unease about the persistent challenges in their region, including the limited access to international scholarships facilitated by the UMSC.
Sheikh Katamba emphasized that despite these challenges, Muslims in the Ankole-Kigezi region have maintained peace and unity, making significant contributions to the establishment of new mosques, schools, and boreholes in their communities.
During the meeting, the delegation lauded the Mufti for the advancements at the UMSC headquarters and the enhanced reputation of the Council.
Sophie Safina Kenyangi, the National Chairperson of the Muslim Council from the Ankole-Kigezi region, commended the Mufti's administration for revising the UMSC constitution to incorporate Muslim women in leadership positions for the first time since the Council's inception in 1972.
She encouraged Muslim leaders to continue empowering women through developmental initiatives like the UMSC Agro Business enterprise.
In his speech, Mufti Mubaje expressed delight at the visit and reaffirmed his dedication to unity and progress, values he has upheld for the past two decades.
He acknowledged the challenges his administration has encountered, including provocation and hostile propaganda but stressed the significance of patience and Islamic brotherhood in surmounting these hurdles.
The Mufti also delineated the advancements made under his leadership in areas such as infrastructure, communication, health, education, and income-generating projects, with plans to extend these initiatives to the regions and lower UMSC structures.
Regarding international scholarships, he clarified that scholarships from Sudan and Egypt had been suspended due to civil conflicts and logistical impediments.
Nevertheless, he assured the delegation of ongoing endeavors to secure more scholarships, including negotiations with Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
UMSC National Chairperson Prof. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira and UMSC Secretary General Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi underscored the importance of development, particularly the multi-million-dollar Agro Business program aimed at large-scale production of coffee, cocoa, sheep, and goats across the ten Muslim regions.
Hadji Muluubya also cautioned Muslim leaders against engaging in property transactions without adhering to UMSC procedures, addressing concerns about widespread property usurpation.
The visit concluded with the Ankole-Kigezi leaders presenting various gifts to the Mufti, including a Friesian cow, honey, green bananas, and chickens. Members of the UMSC National Management Committee were also in attendance at the event.
