The leadership of Kibuli Muslim Community has
confirmed the resignation of the Supreme Mufti Sheikh Silman Kasule Ndirangwa.
Speaking to reporters after Juma prayers, Sheikh Mahmood Kibaate, the Deputy
Supreme Mufti said that although they are yet to receive a formal
communication, they have nevertheless leant about Ndirangwa’s resignation. He
added however that his resignation will not affect the work of the office he
has been serving.
English
//Cue in…the office of
Cue out … at this moment”//
Luganda
Cue in…office ya Supreme
Cue out… gitambula era giggya kuggwa bulungi,”//
Yesterday evening, news broke that Ndirangwa had
resigned his position as Supreme Mufti which he has held for five years since 2015 folowing the death of the then Supreme Mufti Sheikh Zubairi Kayongo.
According to reliable
sources who talked to Uganda Radio Network on condition of anonymity so as to speak
freely about the matter, the Executive Committee of Kibuli had passed a
resolution to sack Ndirangwa as Supreme Mufti.
“When he heard that a resolution had been passed to
sack him, he moved very fast to announce that he had resigned to save face,”
the source said.
On Wednesday at the funeral
prayers of Hajji Musa Katongole at Kibuli mosque, mourners were left wondering
why the Supreme Mufti was never recognized or given an opportunity to speak yet
he was present. Normally, he is the second last person to speak before he
invites Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu who is the titular head of Muslims in
Uganda.
But during the prayers, it was Sheikh Muhammad Lunaanoba who was the
last to speak before he invited Nakibinge. Among the speakers who spoke at the funeral,
it was only the Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga who recognized
Ndirangwa.
It’s widely believed that tension Nakibinge was miffed when a team led by Ndirangwa met president Yoweri Museveni without the Princee's knowledge. Arising from the meeting, Museveni donated to them
11 four-wheel drive cars which they had allegedly asked for to ease their transport.
The same number of cars was donated to the Old Kampala based leadership.
After
the donation of the cars, Nakibinge reportedly ordered his people not to accept the them and
for more than a month, they were parked at Hotel Africana. But later these cars
were distributed among the top leadership at Kibuli and they were allegedly registered
in their names.
According to our source all those who benefited from this offer
are also facing the sack.
Reporters who were itching to put these widely circulated claims to Kibaate were disappointed as he didn’t entertain any
questions from the media, saying there will be a comprehensive statement
after the College of Eminent Sheikhs has sat to forge a way forward.
The office
of the Supreme Mufti was created in 2009 after a fallout with the Mufti of
Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje over the sale of Muslim properties.
