By KT Reporter
Atleast 17 members of Luwero Muslim District Joint Committee have petitioned the District Kadhi seeking to impeach their chairman, Ali Ndawula Ssekyanzi, for challenging the decision to re-elect Sheikh Ramadhan Mubaje as Mufti of Uganda.
On 13th March, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) re-elected Sheikh Dr. Shaban Ramathan Mubaje as the Mufti of Uganda after the expiration of his previous tenure upon reaching the constitutional age limit of 70.
The decision was made by the Majlis Al-Ulama (College of Sheikhs) and later approved unanimously by the Joint Session of the UMSC.
However, the Chairman of Luwero Muslim District, Ali Ndawula Ssekyanzi and others held protests in Kampala City challenging the decision to re-elect Mubaje term. The group also petitioned Parliament to intervene and thereafter turned to the High Court to block Mubaje’s term.
The petitioners are demanding that Mubaje retire immediately, as his tenure ended on 12th March 2025, as per the UMSC constitution in July 2022.
The petitioners urged that Mubaje’s five-year term is unconstitutional since the UMSC constitution doesn’t provide for such action.
But the Luwero Muslim District Joint Committee, led by Muhammad Sserunjogi, accuses Ndawula of misconduct, undermining his office and violating the UMSC Constitution, particularly Article 20.
In their petition submitted to Luwero Kadhi Ramadhan Mulindwa on Thursday, the Committee members disowned Ndawula’s decision to publicly mobilize muslims against the Majlis Al-Ulama’s decisions, saying the move is creating divisions and undermining UMSC authority.
The group furthermore faults Ndawula for representing Luwero Muslim District in the media without the Council’s consent and for failing to use the structures within UMSC to express his grievances.
“We urge the District Kadhi to take appropriate action as we seek accountability to preserve harmony within our community. We therefore seek to impeach Ndawula through Article 11 ofthe UMSC Constitution,” the petitioners said
Sserunjogi, a member of Majlis Al-Ulama ( College of Sheikhs) in Luwero district, said that Ndawula’s actions breach established UMSC protocols and compromise its governance integrity.
” Ndawula swore to uphold the constitution of UMSC, but now he is acting in total disregard by challenging the actions of his superiors who acted within the law to re-elect Mubaje. We ask Kadhi to summon members to the meeting, and we impeach him, ” Sserunjogi told URN after submitting the petition.
The Luwero District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan confirmed receipt of the petition.
Kadhi said he will call a Joint Committee Meeting to hear the case in 14 days, and an impeachment motion will be laid against the chairman.
” After receiving the petition, I must write to the Chairman, suspending him from office pending impeachment. I will then constitute the Joint Session to hear the case against the Chairman,” Kadhi said.
But Ali Ndawula Ssekyanzi has warned the petitioners and Kadhi on the move to impeach him, saying he will challenge it in court.
Ndawula said that as a Sunni Muslim, he has the right to challenge any unlawful actions of UMSC, and no person can stop him.
He added that his actions are backed by a majority of Muslims who believe that Mubaje’s term ended and he should retire now.
“I don’t want District Kadhi to use the group to fight for Mubaje. I will come for Mulindwa as an individual if he does. I know the Kadhi has been accused of mismanagement of district funds and didn’t qualify to be appointed a Kadhi. Let the Kadhi leave Mufti issues to us,” Ndawula said -URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
