Bagunduse has vowed not to vacate office, saying his suspension is illegal. He says that such decisions can only be made by the district executive committee through the Regional Committee leadership, which he says was not done and therefore makes the entire process questionable.
The embattled
Kadhi of Masaka Muslim District, Sheikh Buruhane Bagunduse has declined to
handover office to pave way for investigations into the allegations of
incompetence levelled against him, saying his suspension didn’t follow the laid
down procedures.
It comes a
few hours after Sheikh Muhammad Murshid Luwemba, the Religious Affairs
Secretary at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC wrote suspending Bagunduse from
office on the instructions of the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ramadhan Mubaje
pending investigations.
“In the
interim you’re instructed to hand over the office and all UMSC belongings including
the vehicle registration number UAY 815A to Sheikh Badru Uzair Wasajja who will
care take the office on Friday 26th February 2021” the letter partly reads.
The February
19th, 2021 letter, says the decision to suspend Bagunduse is
premised on complaints of inefficiency made to the office of the Mufti by
Masaka Muslim District Council committee that sat on May 7th 2019.
However, Bagunduse has vowed not to
vacate office, saying his suspension is illegal. He says that such decisions
can only be made by the district executive committee through the Regional Committee
leadership, which he says was not done and therefore makes the entire process
questionable.
//Cue in: "Twewunyiza...
Cue out:...Bagunduse,"//
Bagunduse
also questions the procedure taken to appoint Wasajja as caretaker Kadhi,
saying it is null and void since it’s the district council that has to
select names of three suitable candidates and forward them to the UMSC
headquarters for scrutiny.
Some Muslims in Masaka have protested
Bagunduse’s suspension, saying it is uncalled for. Hajjat Bitamisi Namuddu, one
of the influential Muslims, who is currently providing office space to the District
and Regional Kadhis, says the decision was rushed and untimely.
She blames
UMSC headquarters for acting on rumours, saying that such resolutions have to be
made after making enough investigations and consultations.
“I am not happy with
the decision made by UMSC to suspend our Kadhi. UMSC did not consult any of the
stakeholders in Masaka but it just came up with its decision. This was not
right….There was a need to consult me at least because for long I have been
supporting UMSC even when all Muslims in Masaka had lost confidence in the
leadership of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council,” she said.
//Cue in: “Wetunabera
kunguzi..
Cue out:...yali
bayise,"//
Ismael Mwanje, another Muslim says that UMSC would have given Bagunduse a
chance to defend himself against the allegations before coming up with such a decision.
Sheikh Badru Uzair Kiruta, the caretaker Kadhi confirmed receiving his
appointment letter, saying that he is ready to serve the Muslim
community.
Bagunduse assumed
the Masaka District Muslim leadership seven years ago after the death of Huzair
Kiruta, the former Kadhi of Masaka Muslim district.