The much anticipated meeting between President Museveni and the two warring Muslim factions ended without a solution as the camps openly traded accusations before the President on Friday.
The meeting that lasted six hours was called by the President to try and resolve the differences between the Muslim community led by Mufti Shaban Mubajje based at Old Kampala and Sheikh Zubair Kayongo that sits at Kibulli Hill.
Despite the President’s attempt to mediate the talks between the two camps, none of the groups seemed prepared to cede ground. While the Kibuli faction openly accused the Old Kampala group of selling Muslim property, including land and sowing seeds of division, the Old Kampala group on the other hand accused the Kibuli faction of egos and refusing to cooperate on a number of issues.
The Kibuli team also maintained its stand that elections for representatives to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council called by Sheikh Mubajje should not go ahead before amending sections of their constitution.
And seeing that a solution could not be arrived at during the meeting, the President directed that the two camps send three representatives each to form a committee that will discuss solutions to the wrangles. The President will also appoint two representatives.
“The President calmly listened to the groups as they accused and counter-accused each other and then resolved that a committee be established within one week to look into what led to the conflicts,” said a source who attended the meeting.
Expected meeting
The eight man-committee is expected to meet next week for further discussions with a view to reconcile the differences. Mr Museveni told the Muslim leaders that government was very much concerned with the differences and wrangles among the Muslims in the country.
The eight man-committee is expected to meet next week for further discussions with a view to reconcile the differences. Mr Museveni told the Muslim leaders that government was very much concerned with the differences and wrangles among the Muslims in the country.
“Don’t tire and paralyse the ordinary wanainchi and make them live in fear. They have enough problems, especially fighting poverty and they should not be drugged into these avoidable wrangles,” the President told the assembled Muslim leaders.
Friday’s meeting at Rwakitura followed that of April 27, where the President met about 20 Muslim leaders aligned to the Kibuli faction led by Sheikh Kayongo and his Secretary General, Sheikh Mohammed Kisambira.
Sheikh Nur Muzaata, a member of the Kibulli team, last week said the group was not optimistic about Friday’s meeting as President Museveni had earlier met the same faction seven times but nothing constructive had been realised.
The Kibuli group accuses President Museveni of supporting Sheikh Mubajje but the Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Tamale Mirundi, said whoever was blaming the President for Muslim woes is unfair.
Last week, supporters of Sheikh Kayongo marched from Kibuli through the city centre to Gaddafi National Mosque at Old Kampala, the seat of the Islamic faith in an attempt to block the elections.
Their plans were, however, thwarted by police who confronted them on Namirembe Road, 200 metres away from their destination.
iladu@ug.nationmedia.com
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