By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
High court in Kampala presided over by Deputy Registrar Land Division Her Worship Janeva Natukunda, on Friday 26, 0ctober, 2024 grilled officials of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), the Entebbe NRM spokesperson plus fourteen other Muslims on accusations of trespass and illegal encroachment on the disputed property of Masjid Taqwa.
The grilled include officials of Uganda Muslim supreme council, Edrisa Matovu Figo (Entebbe NRM spokesperson), Sadiq Mukasa (new mosque Vice chairperson), Basir Serunkuma, Musa Sadiq Lukandwa, Rajab Twesige (County Sheikh), Livingstone Luutu (special presidential assistant), Ahmed Kizito, Hajj Sowed Serumaga (UN official), Mansur Mohamed, Yasin Semanda, Juma Mukasa, Abdul Noor Sempungu,Yakoub Muwonge, and Hajj Abbas Muluubya Sekyanzi (secretary general UMSC).
The accused appeared in High court following a civil suit number 917 of 2024 that was filed by Entebbe Masjid Taqwa Company Ltd, Hajji Twaha Sempebwa and Sheikh Umaru Basir Matovu against them.
However, the deputy High Court registrar Land Division has set November 4th, 2024 as the date when court will make a locus visit on the disputed land comprising plot 21 along portal road in Entebbe Municipality Division A. The Registrar has also written a letter instructing the Entebbe Division police commander SSP-Stephen Twinomugisha to avail and deploy security at the locus during the proceedings.
The complainants contend that they are the directors of Entebbe Masjid Taqwa arguing that the Uganda Muslim supreme council is an unlimited company without share capital in charge of Muslims who subscribe with them in Uganda and thus their Lawyers undertake effective service of court process against the accused Muslims.
The plaintiffs in their civil suit demand court to declare that:
“They are the owners of the disputed land comprising plot 21 along portal road in Entebbe town.
Make a declaration that actions of Hajj Abbas Muluubya (UMSC Secretary General) of breaking and forcefully entering the mosque are illegal.
Declaration that the sixteen accused Muslims trespassed on the suit land.
A permanent injunction restraining the accused Muslims plus their agents from further trespassing, encroaching and interfering with the plaintiffs’ quiet possession of the suit property.
General damages and costs worth Shs.100m for the suit plus any other relief that court deems fit”
The accusers claim that Edrisa Matovu Figo (NRM spokesperson) and Yakoub Muwonge Lubega on many occasions have attempted to grab and illegally take possession of Masjid Taqwa land. They add that in 2015 Edrisa Matovu Figo and Councilor Sadiq Mukasa grabbed the suit land using goons and took possession which resulted in Masjid Taqwa suing them under civil suit no. 528 of 2015.
However, through consent both parties Masjid Taqwa and councilor Sadiq Mukasa agreed to peacefully surrender back the property in addition to agreeing to work closely with management of Masjid Taqwa in the running of mosque affairs since they claimed to be members of Entebbe Muslims.
The plaintiffs accuse Livingstone Luutu (Presidential Assistant in charge of mobilization) of trespassing on the disputed land while purporting to represent the interests of Uganda Muslim supreme council. They add that Uganda Muslim supreme council has on several occasions attempted to illegally take and sell the property through using adverse methods like how the accused persons acted early this month.
The plaintiffs further contend that Uganda Muslim supreme council is a company operating but having similar objectives like promoting Islamic religion just like Masjid Taqwa but distinct and independent from each other. They claim it’s the habit of the Uganda Muslim supreme council to sell Muslim property across the country regardless of whether they own it or not.
