A meeting intended to survey land for the establishment of a Seed School in KwarKwar Sub County in Bukedea, which falls under Kumi Muslim district has faced strong opposition from Muslim leaders, resulting in its cancellation. The leaders contested the plan, claiming a lack of consultation by the Sub County leadership asserting that the 7-acre parcel belonged to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC.
The meeting was organized by the Area Land Committee Chairperson, James Pater Absolum Okia, but encountered resistance from Muslim leaders who objected to the proposal. Absolum had invited the community members from Nyakol Village, Nyakoi Parish, KwarKwar Sub County in Bukedea district a letter dated November 22nd, 2023 to a meeting discussing the application by the local government to survey the land.
The land hosts the KwarKwar Twale Mosque and Twale headquarters, with the scheduled meeting set for December 6th, 2023. Previously, IUIU FM Radio broadcast a story, quoting KwarKwar Sub County LC III Chairperson Philimon Adakun, confirming the survey plans and asserting that the land belonged to the government.
The story prompted Muslim leaders, led by Sheikh Abdul Wahab Kauta, the Kadhi of Kumi Muslim District, and Sheikh Abubakar Umar Obilan the area representative to the UMSC General Assembly member, to attend the public meeting called by the Area Land Committee. During the meeting, Adakun expressed dismay that the Kadhi disrupted the proceedings, insisting that the entire land belonged to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and declining any negotiation.
Adakun highlighted the Kadhi’s threat of legal action against the local government, expressing reluctance to engage in another legal battle without seeking advice from higher local authorities. Sheikh Kauta clarified that the land surveying process commenced without the knowledge of UMSC, the rightful landowners.
He emphasized that the planned meeting did not proceed as scheduled by the organizers. Sheikh Kauta affirmed their rejection of the local government’s survey plans, leading to an agreement within the Sub County leadership to suspend the surveying process.
