By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Muslim rival faction opposing the leadership of Sheikh Umar Basir Matovu, have defied the resolution that was passed by Entebbe District security committee in which the committee gave two weeks to both rival factions to reconcile.
The resolution was passed on September 27, 2024 during a district security committee meeting chaired by Entebbe Deputy Resident District Commissioner Hakim Kirigwa whereby the committee resolved that the two rival Muslim factions be given two weeks to reconcile.
However, the rival faction opposing Sheikh Matovu’s leadership led by Entebbe District Khadi, Sheikh Farouk Sendijja was not satisfied with the District security committee resolution, and the following day Saturday September 28, 2024, he petitioned the secretary general Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Hajji Abas Sekyanzi who ordered for the closure of Entebbe Masjid Taqwa as the Muslim body plans for the installation of the new Imam.
But prior to these scenarios, the rival faction led by the District Khadi Sheikh Farouk Sendijja had secured a letter from the Inspector General of Police instructing the Entebbe Division police Commander SSP Steven Twinomugisha to provide them with security as they attempted to install Sheikh Rajab Twesige on the night of September 27, 2024 as the new Imam for Entebbe Masjid Taqwa.
The security committee objected to this because it was too late and needed to first meet the two rival Muslim factions. However on that night, the rival Muslim faction led by the District Khadi Sheikh Farouk Sendijja went on to install the new Imam on the veranda of the mosque as they couldn’t access the mosque because it was locked.
On Saturday September 28, 2024, the Muslim faction led by Imam Basir Matovu convened a meeting with all members of Masjid Taqwa to forge a way forward and during this meeting, they agreed to seek legal services so as to drag the District Khadi and Uganda Muslim supreme council to court for trespassing on Entebbe Masjid Taqwa which they claim is registered as their company not the property of Uganda Muslim supreme Council.
Nonetheless, when their rival faction learnt of their next step of action, on Thursday October 3, 2024, they decided to raid the mosque and broke into the office of the Imam before installing the Imam of their choice Sheikh Rajab Twesige, who succeeded Sheikh Basir Matovu who was forcefully thrown out of office. After a forceful takeover of Entebbe Masjid Taqwa, they instituted three committees to steer up the administration of the mosque which include; County Executive committee, county council and county management committee.
The Secretary General Uganda Muslim supreme council, Hajji Abas Sekyanzi revealed that the forceful takeover followed defiance from Imam Basir Matovu who stubbornly refused to relinquish the leadership of Entebbe Masjid Taqwa yet he was not qualified to head the disputed mosque at the county level hence the installation of the county Sheikh Rajab Twesige.
‘We decided to use force because we were dissatisfied with the resolution passed by the District security committee which gave us two weeks to reconcile with our rival Muslim faction. The takeover I believe will bring to an end the protracted disagreement we have been having with our fellow Muslims in Entebbe, “said Hajji Sekyanzi.
The Entebbe District Khadi, Sheikh Farouk Sendijja, expressed displeasure with the Entebbe District security committee saying it didn’t help them to handle the Muslim issues prompting him and other Muslims to use force to occupy Entebbe Masjid Taqwa which has been under the administration of Imam Basir Matovu for the past 4years. He however called upon Sheikh Basir Matovu and his followers to work hand in hand with the newly installed Imam Sheikh Rajab Twesige.
In his maiden speech, the newly installed County sheikh Rajab Twesige, promised to work together with all Muslims regardless of their differences in addition to renovating the mosque which he claims his predecessor failed to refurbish.
“We are now one person, our brothers had separated us. Right now the Uganda Muslim supreme council is in charge of Entebbe Masjid Taqwa. The old administration has been misinforming security about the Muslim issues, “Sheikh Twesige revealed.
The Secretary General Entebbe Muslim district Sheikh Lubega Muwonge, said Masjid Taquwah being at the county level must be headed by the county Sheikh adding that the leadership of Sheikh Basir Matovu was not in the Muslim structures and that it was wrong for him to refuse to handover the leadership of Masjid Taqwa.
“We have succeeded in taking over the mosque by using force. The Mosque has had issues since 2012 fuelled by Sheikh Twaha Sempebwa and his cohorts who illegally registered it as their business entity in the name of Masjid Taqwa business entity. These very leaders were using acidic language and character assassination towards any member of Uganda Muslim supreme council. They had turned the mosque into a criminal hub and had been good friends with members of Entebbe District security committee and would feed the security committee with wrong information in order to protect them,” said Sheikh Muwonge.
In related news, Muslims have castigated the Entebbe District security committee headed by Entebbe RDC Hakim Kirigwa of failure to offer them security during the installation of the new Imam at Entebbe Masjid Taqwa. They also accused the security committee of profiting from the old administration of the mosque in addition to being reluctant when approached to provide security and instead would decide to keep a deaf ear in addition to warming office furniture.
