KAMPALA.
Angry Muslim faithful have blocked Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) officials of organizing this year Muslim Martyrs Day at Shuhadah Mosque Namugongo saying they have not been transparent in redeveloping the site .
The faithful claim that UMSC has been receiving huge sums of money from central government to redevelop the site to level of that of Catholics and Protests ,but all funds are misappropriated by officials at UMSC headquarters ,Old Kampala .
“Every year , government has been giving UMSC money to redevelop this site ,but nothing has been done and there is no accountability , the little development you see here ,is a contribution of local Muslims .So,we see no sense in hosting the event here ,let them take it elsewhere ,” Musa Sajjabbi ,a faithful said
This year alone , Sajjabbi said UMSC received Shs200m to organize the event while Catholics and Protestants who commemorate the same day on June 3 , received Shs2billion each .
The commemoration of Muslim martyrs we scheduled to take place at Shuhadah Mosque ,Namugongo today ,Tuesday, but local Muslims up a spirited fight on Monday forcing UMSC officials to shift the function to National Mosque in Old Kampala.
This significant shift, announced by Sheikh AbdulRazak Alinda, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of finance at UMSC , has sent ripples of adjustment through preparations across the nation.
Addressing the media on Monday Sheikh Alinda, explained the last-minute change with a candid admission: “The venue at Namugongo was simply not ready to host the function tomorrow[today].While Namugongo has long been the revered site for both Christian and Muslim martyrdom commemorations, logistical hurdles and an inability to adequately prepare the Muslim section for the anticipated throngs of faithful necessitated the move,” he said
The decision, though came just hours before today’s event, was presented as a practical solution to ensure a dignified and well-organized celebration.
“The National Mosque, a grand and central edifice in Kampala, is well-equipped to handle large congregations and boasts established infrastructure, which will undoubtedly ease the burden on organizers,” he said
This disagreement is likely to frustrate efforts to redevelop the Namugongo site to modern standards .UMSC which is led by Mufti Shaban Mubajje is slowly ,but surely losing trust of Muslims after a big percent of faithful withdrew their allegiance from Sheikh Mubajje who they accuse of running down the institution .Muslims also accuse Mubajje and his first deputy Sheikh Ali Waiswa of illegally occupying office after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 70 years .
Story of Muslim martyrs
Muteesa I Mukaabya Walugembe ,the 30th Kabaka of Buganda converted to Islam and enforced changes in Buganda lifestyle.
He led daily prayers, made fasting mandatory and gave the Muslims licence to slaughter animals, among other things.
However, in 1874 (some sources say 1876) grave disagreements broke up with the coming of a section of Muslims from Egypt and Turkey.
They detested the fact that Muslims did not face in the direction of Mecca during prayers; that Muteesa was not circumcised yet he was the fountain of Islam in the land. These disagreements bitterly split Muslims to the extent of refusing to stand behind Muteesa when he led congregational prayers.
Abstaining from the meat of the animals he slaughtered. They labelled him Kafir (nonbeliever).
Muteesa ordered the murder of the disobedient Muslim martyrs “because they failed to give Islam a chance to reconcile them”.
Over a hundred Muslims were mutilated, tortured and burnt to death on the orders of Kabaka Muteesa I at Namugongo, Nateete, Mulungu, Namungoona and other places.