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His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda has led Ugandan Muslims to join the Global Muslim community to commemorate Eid el-Adhuha- the feast of sacrifice for the year 2023. The main prayers were held at the National Mosque at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC Headquarters in Old Kampala, Wednesday June, 28th 2023.
In his speech shortly before leading Eid prayers, Sheikh Mubaje, congragulated all Ugandans including the President and the entire government upon reaching the annual Eid Adhuha festivals. He used the same speech to condemn in the strongest terms possible the Kasese rebel attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School, which claimed the lives of 43 people including students, a security guard and non students.
“These criminals are cowards. Instead of facing fellow “combatants,” the Army they wrongly chose soft targets, which really shows that they don’t have any meaningful agenda,” he said. Adding that “We pray that such people can do deep personal reflection to enable them return to normal human senses.”
He also condemned the proponents of other ongoing wars and conflicts around the World in countries as Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine and Arab countries where the blood of innocent people is being shed merely to assume political power, land and other material gains. Using the same occasion, Sheikh Mubaje thanked President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Gov’t for enacting laws to operationalize Islamic Banking and the anti-homosexuality act.”We assure the President that we are behind him. He should remain firm in the fight against such acts,” he said.
And concerning the government’s social transformation and poverty alleviation programs such as Parish Development Model-PDM and Myooga, Sheikh Mubaje called for round table discussions with the Muslim leadership in order to redesign the program to to become Sharia complaint to benefit the Muslims too. The Mufti also called upon Muslims especially youths to desist from misusing social media as means of spreading bad behavior and hurling insults, spreading lies, defaming others and propagating hate speech instead of using it to spread the beautiful message of Islam. Lastly, he expressed regret that some Ugandan Muslim Pilgrims didn’t make it to Haj even after making full payment through various Haj companies.
He pledged to work closely with other stakeholders to investigate the causes for this to find possible solutions in future. He later offered special prayers towards the wellbeing of the President and Rt Honourable Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja, who was scheduled to represent the government but couldn’t make it because of ill health and was represented by Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Minister incharge of Kampala Affairs. On her part, Hon. Minsa Kabanda, urged Muslim faithful to strengthen unity, love and brotherhood. She also rallied Muslims to join the Government in fighting against all acts of terrorism like that of Kasese.
She also hinted on the social transformation programs and pledged to see that there is round table discussions with UMSC to introduce packages that conform to Islamic values and norms to enable members of the Muslim community to benefit from Govt interventions.
On the last note, she requested UMSC and other Stakeholders to make thorough investigations into the failed pilgrimage of several Ugandan Muslims yet they had paid for the journey. The day’s soul uplifting sermon was delivered by Sheikh Imran Ssali, the Secretary for Religious Affairs to the enormous crowd that spilled over to the entire Mosque compound. Sheikh Ssali quoted several texts from the Glorious Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad about the sacredness of the Eid Adhuha right from the great devotion of Prophet Ibrahim and his immediate family as they exhibited deep faith in Almighty Allah.”This feast is for purification, and speaking the truth it is a day of exchanging gifts, giving happiness and love to family members, observing charity, showing kindness to needy, bringing smiles on the face of orphans, caring for parents, building bridges, shaking hands and giving room for reconciliation, visiting the sick and praying for them, and visiting the graves of the loved ones and offer them prayers,” Sheikh Ssali preached. In attendance were His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the 2nd Deputy Mufti, Dr. Sheikh Ziyad Swaleh Lubanga, the Director of Sharia and Acting Secretary General who led Members of Management, diplomats, Hon. Safinah Sophia Kenyangi, the National Chairperson Muslim Women Council, former UMSC top leaders, prominent members of the business fraternity, Sheikhs, and elders among others.
Zziwa Ashiraf
UMSC Spokesperson