Luwero Muslim leaders divided over whether to attend Otafiire security meeting

Organized by Hajji Musa Lukandwa in conjunction with the Greater Luwero Muslim Chairman Hajji Musa Kakande, the meeting is scheduled to take place at Luwero Islamic Primary School tomorrow, Wednesday August 24^th, 2022.

However, Luwero District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa has put out a notice to all County Sheikhs and their respective followers to boycott the meeting as unbeneficial to them.

Mulindwa says that February this year, the same group organised a similar meeting at Kasana Umea Primary School playground but to date the government has not addressed any of the issues raised on that day.

Mulindwa says that such meetings are used as ploys by some individuals to get money from government and not to address the issues affecting Muslims. He also queries why the meeting has been called without consulting the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) or his office.

Sheikh Sayyid Nyanzi, the Zirobwe County Sheikh, says when he realised that the organisers did not use structures of UMSC, he declined to attend.

“I agree with district Kadhi that such meetings are not intended for social transformation or peace but to benefit individuals who organise them. So I won’t attend or mobilise any person for the meeting,” Sheikh Nyanzi said.

Abdulmalik Kisitu, the Secretary for Kalagala County, says the express purpose of the meeting creates misperceptions about Muslims by making them the focal points of sensitisation drives against counter-terrorism while precluding other religious denominations. Kisitu says, for that reason, he shall not attend it

“We have informed our followers that any person who attends the meeting will be held accountable as an individual for the resolutions or deliberations made,” Kisitu said.

However, Hajji Musa Lukandwa insists that despite the notice by Kadhi, the meeting will go on as planned.

Lukandwa claims the Kadhi is bitter because he is not the guiding spirit behind the meeting. Adding that the Kadhi also fears that Muslims in Luwero may report him to Otafiire for allegedly establishing a market on their land without consulting them.

“The organisers are free to invite Kadhi Mulindwa or not but he shouldn’t sabotage the meeting. This is a National program to sensitise all Muslims on security irrespective of the faction they belong to. Preparations are ongoing and right now am heading to the Resident District Commissioner to harmonize the program for the meeting,” Lukandwa said.

Last week, Luwero district authorities failed to resolve a dispute between the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA) limited over the supervision of 35 Muslim-founded schools in the district.