Anti-riot police on Friday deployed and sealed off Kasana Mosque in Luweero town council to block two Muslim factions from clashing.
The factions subscribe to Sheikh Shaban Mubajje and Zubair Kayongo respectively. Each of the two factions claims to have the right to hold a district conference.
The Kayongo faction headed by Kadhi Kyobe Mugalu organized a four-day Muslim district conference from January 20th to 24th. The conference was to bring together more than 500 imams from Nakaseke, Luweero and Nakasongola. The conference was expected to be opened by Prince Kassim Nakibinge and they were to discuss issues affecting religion in the area.
However, the Mubajje faction headed by Sheikh Umar Mukasa petitioned the Resident District commissioner, Paul Lubowa, seeking to block the planned conference. They argued that Kasana Mosque is a property of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council which doesn’t recognize the existence of Mufti Kayongo and his Kibuli-based faction. The Mubajje faction also claimed that Kyobe Mugalu was suspended as Kadhi in December, 2010 and has no mandate to call any assembly on behalf of Muslims.
RDC Lubowa on Thursday cancelled the conference citing possible violence if it is held under such confusion but the hundreds of Muslims allied to Kayongo went on to assemble at the Mosque in the night ahead of the conference.
The Police commanded by Luweero DPC Samuel Bamuzibire stormed the mosque on Friday morning and ordered all Muslims who had turned up for the conference to vacate it immediately. The Muslims left the mosque but regrouped at Kasana UMEA Primary school where they plan to hold the meeting.
DPC Samuel Bamuzibire says police deployed to prevent possible clashes and bloodshed.
But the Kayongo faction spokesperson in Luweero, Shiekh Musa Kakande described the police action as an attack on Islam and accused RDC Lubowa of fuelling Muslim wrangles in the district. He vowed that conference will be held weather in the mosque or not and they are still waiting for other invited guests to decide on the next action.
