Sheikh Abdallah Ssemambo the Deputy Mufti of Uganda, has backed the nationwide registration of all Imams that begun Mid-November this year.
The exercise was Luwero Muslim District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa embarked on the registration of all Imams and other religious leaders at Mosques in the district, following the arrest of Muslim Clerics for their alleged links to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group.
Security personnel arrested Sheikh Swaibu Segujja, the Assistant Secretary for Zakat in Luwero Muslim District and the Imam of Butanza Mosque and Sheikh Muhammed Bruhan Ssemwanga, the Imam of Lusenke Mosque in Wobulenzi Town Council and teacher at Lugo Orphanage in Lukomera, Katikamu Sub-County and Rashid Ibn Warid Islamic Primary School in Wobulenzi Town Council.
The arrests came amid investigations into the role of the ADF in multiple bomb blasts in Kampala city. While Imam Segujja was released after interrogation, Imam Ssemwanga was instead transferred to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Kireka for further investigations.
According to Sheikh Swaibu Segujja the operatives released him after explaining to them that he does not know the whereabouts of his sister Aisha Nassanga and her husband whom they were searching for because of their links to ADF.
This prompted Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa the Kadhi of Luwero Muslim district to come up with the registration, arguing that in the wake of the arrests and others that happened before, they decided to register all Imams with his office through the County Sheikhs.
He further directed the Imams to register all religious leaders that work at Mosques in the district. The registration exercise is expected to help his office to trace and defend the Imams in case of any arrests regarding terror-related activities or any other criminal activity.
While officiating at the annual Luwero Muslim District Maulid celebrations at Kasana Mosque in Luwero Town, Sheikh Ssemambo said that he was impressed by this development by Luwero district Kadhi, adding that this initiative is worth emulating, thus the need to have it conducted across all Muslim districts in the country.
Sheikh Ssemambo noted that many unscrupulous people hide among Muslims and commit crimes but this exercise will be of much help in looking into this challenge.
