Uganda Muslim Supreme Council- UMSC has vowed to defy the court’s temporary injunction restraining the Mufti Sheikh Shaban Mubajje and other officials from conducting business on behalf of the Council.
This was communicated in a press statement issued by Ramathan Mugalu, the General Secretary of the UMSC fdated January 13th, 2023.
Mugalu was responding to an order issued by the Mengo Chief Magistrate, Patrick Talisuna Ngereza on January 10th, 2022 stopping the Mufti, his agents, employees, officials, assignees, and all persons acting on their instructions from carrying out any business on behalf of the Council.
The interim order is supposed to be in place until the determination of the main suit which is pending before the same court.
But before a final court judgment is made, Mugalu has vowed not to comply with the orders issued by the court on grounds that what is prescribed in the order is not valid.
In his communication, Mugalu said the ex-parte orders, that were issued by the court do not affect the office of the Mufti.
“There is no suit challenging the office of the Mufti, and no order has been issued requiring the Mufti to vacate his office nor stop his activities as it’s being alleged by self-seekers. We appeal for calmness, the UMSC offices are open, and the administrative offices at every structure of the UMSC will and should remain open,” he said.
He that, “the election of the National Chairman and his deputy were free and fair and conducted by a duly mandated organ; General Assembly under the Chairmanship of the Mufti as provided for by the constitution.”
Mugalu asked the security agencies to be keen on these issues such that they are not misled by individuals who have their own interests. “We do appeal to the security agencies, police, and other state organs to ensure that they are not misused under the guise of enforcing orders that trump upon UMSC and Muslim God-given divine rights,” added Mugalu.
”We kindly appeal to the judiciary to pay attention to the need to balance individual-promoted rights versus the public interest of 14 million Ugandan Muslims and the need to protect religious institutions against opportunistic claims,” he added.
Mugalu said they have tasked their lawyers to engage the court to ensure that its orders are vacated. This comes two days after drama unfolded at Old Kampala when a section of Muslims led by Hajji Abdu Kiyimba and court bailiffs went to serve Mufti Ramadhan Mubajje with the Court order.
On reaching there, the management of UMSC advised the court bailiffs together with Businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba’s men to serve the injunction to UMSC’s lawyers.
The group which comprised some members of the General assembly led by Hajji Abdu Kiyimba accuse Mubajje of among others selling UMSC land measuring 518 hectares comprising ranch 38A at Bukiragi village, Ntuusi Sub-county in Sembabule, and failure to account for the money.
They also accuse Mubajje of mismanaging Shs 2.5 billion that was given to UMSC by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to organize the just concluded nationalwide Muslim polls as well as facilitate the amendment of the constitution.
Furthermore, the group accuses Mubajje of disqualifying businessman Basajjabalaba, his longtime friend-turned-opponent, from vying for the position of Council chairperson during the General elections.
In December last year during the UMSC Chairmanship elections, Basajjabalaba one of the contestants was ejected from the race after Mubajje who was the presiding officer reasoning that the UMSC constitution bars anyone who had been previously impeached by any Council organ from contesting.
In 2010, the UMSC Joint Session that comprises the executive and college of sheikhs impeached Basajjabalaba on a string of accusations including illegally selling off plot 30 William Street to Drake Lubega valued at $ 2million