A Muslim row at Bwikya mosque in Hoima municipality has deepened forcing the deputy Resident District Commissioner, Abdul Swamad Wantimba, to intervene.
The conflict pits the acting district Kadhi, Sheik Musa Babanja on one side and the Bwikya Mosque Imam, Mwalim Yahaya Birakurataki, on the other.
Early July, Babanja wrote a letter terminating Birakurataki. Mwalim Birakurataki however has ignored the termination saying it didn’t follow the recommended procedure.
The row reached another level on July 15th when a fight erupted as the acting district Kadhi went to Bwikya mosque to install a new Imam.
On Friday, the deputy Resident District Commissioner, Abdul Swamad Wantimba met representatives of the warring factions at his office.
The closed-door meeting was attended by some Muslim district leaders and those from the Uganda Muslim supreme council executive.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Wantimba said it was aimed at preventing further chaos at the mosque and a call for all warring parties to embrace dialogue in sorting out their grievances.
Cue in “Uganda….”
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Imam Mwalim Yahaya expressed optimism that the conflict would be solved amicably given the RDC’s intervention.
Sheik Musa Babanja could not easily be reached for comment after the meeting.
Juma prayers went on peacefully at Bwikya mosque despite the district Kadhi and Mwalim Yahaya’s attendance.
