Muslims in Masaka have declared a war on Masaka Municipal council authorities over their alleged involvement in the illegal relocation of Islamic school.
Masaka Noor Islamic Institute, the school under contention is located in Kimanya zone B in Kimanya-Kyabakuza Division. It is the branch of Egyptian-Cairo based University – AL-Azihar Shariff Arabic University.
The institute seats on a 5-acre piece of land. It is both a primary school with 300 pupils and 150 Arabic students. It also has 20 Arabs from Egypt who conduct Islamic studies at the school.
Recently, Masaka Municipal Council, passed a resolution changing use of the school land into a residential area.
Benon Yiga, the Masaka Town Clerk has also written to the school authorities notifying them of the schools pending relocation. The municipality has also instructed the school authorities to stop putting up any new structures.
However, the school management and Masaka district Muslim Supreme Council say the decision by Masaka Municipal Council is illegal.
The Muslims have also declared war on Masaka Municipal council should they attempt to raze their structures.
Sheikh Moses Wamala, the Schools chairman says the decision came as a surprise.
Wamala, who is also the Secretary of Education Masaka district Muslim Supreme council claims that Masaka municipality first grabbed 8 plots of land initially part of the school land and now they have turned to the school.
He says they school has been in operation since 1960s with all the legal requirements for its existence. Wamala says the Muslims will not allow its relocation. He says the Municipal decision to relocate the school will not be allowed because they have established multi-billion structures with the help of Egyptian Government.
Abdul Walakira, the schools Director of Studies says the school has the lease, Uganda National Examination Board center, and an Islamic certificate all of which are acquired after the school has fulfilled the legal requirements. Walakira accuses Masaka Town Council Councilors of attempting to stifle the teaching of Islam.
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A group of Muslims have also vowed to use Friday Juma prayers to alert all Muslims to declare war on Masaka Municipality.
Benon Yiga, the Masaka Town Clerk, has not commented on the matter. However, Kasibante Kibabilire, the Masaka Mayor, says they are going to verify the documents concerning that school land.
This is the second school in the area engaged in dispute with Masaka Municipality over land. Hill Road Public school is under investigation over the alleged illegal sell of its land to Senior Masaka district leaders.
