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Tabliqs reconcile with Kibuli Muslim faction
Prince Kassim Nakibinge speaks at a function in Kubuli recently. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The meeting was also attended by Sheik Abdul Noor Lunanoba, the chairperson of college of eminent sheikhs at Kibuli and Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala who also doubles as Parliamentary Imam.
- Unity has eluded Muslims in Uganda since its advent in the country in 1844. In 1972, the former president, Idi Amin Dada forcefully united Muslims under the umbrella of UMSC.
Youth under the Tabliq Muslim section have buried their hatchet and agreed to work with the Kibuli Muslim faction.
The youth, belonging to Jamuiyat Da’awa Asaalafiyya (JDA), an association under the Tabliq Muslim Community on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the titular head of Kibuli-based Muslim faction. Prince Kassim Nakibinge and vowed to work with him.
The delegation comprising 30 imams and sheiks from various mosques around Kampala was led by former Tabliq leader Sheik Sulaiman Kakeeto and JDA spokesperson Siraje Kifampa.
In his brief address to his visitors, Prince Nakibinge said unending internal bickering among Muslim leaders has cost the community a lot and the time is ripe for all factions to unit and work together.
“What the community is going through couldn’t have happened if we were united. We have spent a lot of valuable time pulling ropes on issues that are solvable and the time is now to bury our hatches and move forward,” Prince Nakibinge said.
He commended the Tabliqs for initiating the talks and promised that more follow-up meetings will be held in the coming weeks to cement their cooperation.
“This is just the beginning and we are looking forward to have more of such interactions aimed at roning out our internal differences,” he added.
The Tabliqs, who are already enjoying a cordial working relationship with Uganda Muslim Supreme Council led by Mufti Sheik Shaban Mubajje, had withdrawn their allegiance from the Kibuli group accusing some leaders at Kibuli hill of working with the State to place tramped up charges against their leaders and a dozen of them including top Tabliq leader Sheik Yunus Kamoga are still incarcerated at Luzira Prison.
On his part, Sheik Kifamba apologized for the verbal attacks some Tabliqs have been directing at Prince Nakibinge, saying they were uncalled for and will never happen again.
“We are here to defuse the current tension in the Ummah [community]. We all belong to the same community and attacking each other after a disagreement shouldn’t happen again. We pray that this initiative we have started today [Tuesday] bears fruit and we unite all Muslims regardless of their factions,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Sheik Abdul Noor Lunanoba, the chairperson of college of eminent sheikhs at Kibuli and Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala who also doubles as Parliamentary Imam.
Unity has eluded Muslims in Uganda since its advent in the country in 1844. In 1972, the former president, Idi Amin Dada forcefully united Muslims under the umbrella of UMSC.
However, the unity was short-lived as his government was disposed in 1979.
Muslims reunited again in 2000 shortly after the election of the incumbent Mufti, Sheikh Mubajje, but broke up a few years later accusing his leadership of illegally disposing off Muslim property at William Street in Kampala.
Those opposed to Sheikh Shaban Mubajje’s leadership took the matter to court which later exonerated him. They were, however, dissatisfied with the ruling and went ahead to establish a parallel leadership based at Kibuli Mosque.
Although the said property has since been reverted to Muslims and Mubajje publicly apologised, a section of Muslims loyal to Prince Nakibinge still believe that this is not enough since he has not personally reconciled with other top leadership at Kibuli hill.
As a result, Mr Museveni appointed the Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere- led Commission to inquire into the perennial Muslim wrangles and make appropriate recommendations for implementation.
One of the recommendations was to dissolve the parallel administrations and allow Muslims elect a new unifying mufti. However, the recommendations of the report are yet to be implemented.
