The death of Dr. Asad Ssentongo is a huge loss to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the entire nation, revealed the Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje.
“The late Ssentongo has been a very disciplined and hardworking person,” Sheikh Mubaje said during the funeral of Dr. Ssentongo in Butambala on Monday afternoon. He explained that shortly after the elections of UMSC structures, Sheikh Abdul Obeid Kamulegeya, the former Chief Kadhi of Uganda, presented Hadji Abasa Mulubya Ssekyanzi and Dr. Ssentongo for appointment as special nominees of the Mufti to the UMSC general assembly.
“I didn’t know Hadji Abasa but I knew Dr. Ssentongo. I didn’t hesitate to appoint him because I knew him too well. He was my former student at IUIU. He was among the very first 80 students of IUIU as mentioned by the rector,” he said. Sheikh Mubaje noted that because of his expertise and hard work, Dr. Ssentongo has been on the planning committee of UMSC.
Sheikh Mubaje revealed that Dr. Ssentongo has been a peacemaker wherever he has served. “His last presentation was on religious tolerance as a solution to bigotry. His focus has been on uniting people. Death isn’t a punishment,” he said.
He cautioned those who wish others were dead and use funerals to push their agenda. “Whoever wishes death for another could actually be the first. Let’s not wish others death. We shouldn’t use people’s deaths for other things because death unites us as humans,” he said.
The Mufti delivered more than Shillings 8 million as condolences from the UMSC and contributions from the staff and members of the national executive committee.
Earlier on, Commissioner of Police Hadija Namutebi, who represented the Inspector General of Police, revealed that Dr. Ssentongo has been instrumental in developing the police doctrine.
“We shall ensure that the police doctrine is completed. We shall ensure that it comes to life and we implement what has been laid,” she revealed. The UPDF representative expressed similar sentiments, saying the deceased was key in developing the forces’ doctrine.
Hajati Minsa Kabanda, the Kampala Minister, said the country has lost a very important and hardworking person.
“We shall continue praying for his mother, wife, and family because they are the most aggrieved. We should continue loving our country, our government, family, and friends,” she said.
About the Deceased
Dr. Asad Ssentongo was born in 1965 in Butambala and started his lower education at Kibibi Primary School.
He attended Mwiri Secondary School in Jinja for his ordinary level education and completed his advanced level at Gombe Secondary School in Mpigi District.
He went to IUIU in Mbale for his bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies and Arabic Language before furthering his studies in South Africa, the UK, and the US. He has been working as a consultant for the Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF and Uganda Police Force on doctrine and peace and reconciliation.