Do not reopen William Street Mosque, says UMSC

In a glowering statement issued moments ago, the UMSC spokesperson Ashraf Zziwa Muvawala said those who intend to forcefully reopen the mosque will face the full measure of the law.  

“UMSC shall take legal action against whoever goes against this warning and causes trouble. Muslims are therefore urged to continue holding prayers in other surrounding Mosques, including the National Mosque at Old Kampala. You are advised to shun those bent on using violence,” Muvawala warned. 

This warning comes in the wake of information circulating on social media and radio that an unspecified group of Muslims are planning to forcefully reopen the mosque this Friday (tomorrow).  

Muvawala stressed that a meeting of the UMSC Management Committee, chaired by the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, ruled against its reopening.

They considered a number of factors in their ruling, he said. These include the congestion of traders and heavy traffic in the area surrounding the mosque along with the prevalence of Covide-19.

However, the greatest sticking point is the indiscipline amongst Muslims themselves, he said.

He noted that the indiscipline of some individuals, operating under the guise of observing prayers, has led to the preachment of hatred and incitement of violence in the Muslim Community.

This has not only led to disunity within the Muslim Community, but it has alarmed the Ugandan authorities to the dangers of such indiscipline.

In the context of the above considerations, it was resolved to keep the mosque closed until proper UMSC administrative procedures are put in place after the rehabilitation of the premises.

In the past, the mosque has been the matrix of much controversy in the Muslim community.

In 2008, the UMSC was at the time helmed by Sheikh Mubajje and under his tenure, the premises were surreptitiously sold to businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, who later sold his interest in the property to Drake Lubega amidst protests from a section of the Muslim leaders. 

This led to the aggrieved Muslim leaders forming a parallel Muslim leadership at Kibuli and they thereupon elected the late Sheikh Zubair Sowed Kayongo their leader.

President Yoweri Museveni, in an attempt to unify the warring factions, compensated Lubega and returned the premises to the Muslim community.