On Friday, December 29, 2023, Juma prayers at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) main Abubakar mosque in Mbarara City were conducted under strict security measures due to the presence of Acting Mufti Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo.
Before the prayers commenced, Sheikh Ssemambo was greeted by a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles from Biharwe town, located approximately 15 kilometers from Mbarara city on the Masaka-Mbarara road.
Unlike typical mosque entrances, attendees had to undergo checks by the police stationed at both entrances before entering.
At around 12:30 pm, Sheikh Ssemambo was welcomed inside by a group of enthusiastic Muslims chanting Allah Akbar. A brief disturbance occurred inside the mosque regarding the leadership of prayers, but the matter was resolved when it was agreed that Imam Sheikh Adam Abbasi would lead the prayers in that area.
In his post-prayer remarks, Sheikh Ssemambo expressed gratitude to President Museveni for halting the sale of Muslim property over a debt of Shs 19 billion. He emphasized the need for Muslim unity, urging the community to focus on development and social-economic transformation, particularly in the areas of health and education.
Sheikh Ssemambo revealed that their visit to Mbarara was at the invitation of the local Muslim community to receive updates on changes in Muslim leadership.
During his sermon, Sheikh Abbasi criticized educated Muslims for being selfish and causing divisions within the Muslim community. He stressed the importance of Islam as a religion of good example in families, development, and leadership.
The Rwizi region police spokesperson, Mr. Samson Kasasira, explained that their deployment was a precautionary measure, anticipating potential chaos during the Acting Mufti’s visit from Kampala to Mbarara. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that nothing went wrong during the event.
