Some members of the general assembly and district Khadis of Ankole and Kigezi Muslim regions convened a special meeting in Mbarara city, expressing support for the embattled Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje.
The meeting, held last Saturday at Nyamitanga SS in Mbarara city South division, followed the visit of acting Mufti Sheikh Abdullah Ssemambo, who addressed Muslims on Friday at Abubakar Jamia Masjid in Mbarara city.
During the meeting, leaders made declarations presented to the press by Ismail Giramungu, a general assembly member from Ibanda district. They distanced themselves from the special sitting at Gangu Muslim Primary School, which installed Sheikh Abdallah Ssembambo as the interim Mufti, deeming the appointment illegal according to the constitutional provisions of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC).
The leaders, chaired by the Ankole-Kigezi Muslim region deputy Mufti, Sheikh Abdallah Katamba, expressed unwavering support for Mufti Mubaje and emphasized their commitment to stand by him. They urged stakeholders to recognize and respect the constitutional provisions of the UMSC.
Sophie Kenyangi, UMSC Women’s Council chairperson, called on Muslims to remain calm and not let court issues cause disunity. She assured them that UMSC is still operating within existing structures.
Ankole-Kigezi region, comprising 11 districts, is one of the nine regions established by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council general assembly in 2016. These regions aim to bring services closer to the people by decentralizing the council’s operations.
