By Ivan Mwine
The Kibuli based Tabliq faction has refuted allegations circulating in various media outlets to the effect that they held a meeting with president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over the weekend, and that they agreed to reunite with their rivals at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) based in Old Kampala.
The news is awash with stories of how the two factions that have been warring for several years to the extent that they have parallel Muftis had agreed to burry their hatchet.
However, the Kibuli faction has since issued a public statement in which they make their position about the matter known, on top refuting the purported reunion.
The statement from the Office of the Supreme Mufti, dated April 13th, 2022, issued by Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, the Director, Communication, Research and International Relations, states in part thus;
“The Office of the Supreme Mufti Management and Executive Committee Session held on 13th April 13, 2022, at Kibuli Headquarters, wishes to pronounce itself on the above subject matter as hereunder;
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to H.E the President of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni for his untiring efforts and unwavering commitment towards the peaceful resolution of Muslim Leadership.
We wish to categorically inform the General Public that the Office of the Supreme Mufti is an independent legal entity with its own constitution based on the Quran and Sunnah to guide the actions and decisions associated with provision of ethical leadership and governance of Muslim Affairs inn Uganda.
We wish to inform the general public, Supreme Khadis and all our Muslim Leadership structures countrywide that the Office of the Supreme Mufti was neither invited nor involved in the purported unity talks.
We therefore, in the strongest terms possible refute the impression created that Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndilangwa, Sheikh Mahmoud Ssebugwawo Kibaate, Sheikh Abdul Obeid Kamulegeya and Sheikh Hamid Kateregga have the mandate to represent or speak for the Administration of the office of the Supreme Mufti.
We are open to honest, genuine and sincere engagements leading to Muslim unity and quality service delivery to the Muslim Community.”
This however means that President Museveni was hoodwinked by the Sheikhs he held a meeting with at State House over the weekend and it should be noted that such meetings usually end with the attendees receiving heavy brown envelopes.
