KAMPALA.
Imams under the National Assembly of Imams and Duats of Uganda have accused Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) of hijacking State House annual sponsorships to Mecca ,Saudi Arabia .
They claim that they lobbied President Museveni in 2011 to start sponsoring Imams to go for pilgrimage (Hajj) ,but are wondering why UMSC officials want to take full control of the scheme .
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and a Muslim believer is required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina at least once in his or her lifetime.
Speaking to Journalists in Kampala on Tuesday , Sheikh Saidi Kasawuli, the chairperson of National Assembly of Imams and Duats of Uganda, said :“Though the request was delayed for over 15 years finally it was granted and 100 slots were availed for Imams who requested for the grants, but UMSC wants to take a lion’s share,” he said
According to Sheikh Kasawuli , UMSC officials have decided to 60 slots and leave only 40 to the Imams –which he says is unfair .
“The pilgrimage sponsorships were meant to benefit all Imams and Amirats [Muslim women leaders] from across all Muslim religious affiliations ,but if UMSC is in charge , Muslims who disagree with the current UMSC leadership headed by Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje will be left out,” he said .
Mubajje’s leadership is currently facing a credibility test with a wider Muslim community accusing him of cling onto power even after clocking the retirement age last month . They also accuse him of running down UMSC and illegally disposing off Muslim properties in Kampala and various towns across the country .
But Mr Muhammad Ali Aluma, the U
MSC deputy secretary General, said the Imams were misrepresenting facts about the State House hajj scheme .
“We know that Sheikh Kasawuli is the one misinforming the Muslims yet we had a meeting with his team and agreed on certain issues,” he said , adding
“ We had agreed that we share equally the slots 50 by 50 and if they are now complaining it means that they are confused on that issue,” he said
However, Hajji Yunus Kakande ,the Secretary for the Office of the President, said State House halted its hajj programme long time ago and there is no arrangement to sponsor Muslim leaders this year .
“The President had Saudi friends who offered free Haji slots to Ugandans for some years ,but this arrangement was halted ,those who are talking about it ,I don’t know where they are getting that information ” he said
This year’s hajj programme in Saudi Arabia is expected to kickoff on May 24 and at least 1400 Ugandans are expected to take part in the hajj rituals. Each pilgrim is expected to pay