By Haji Nsereko Mutumba
The history of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) as told by ignorant and dishonest individuals who accuse the current UMSC administration under H.E the Mufti of Uganda Shk. Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje for selling ‘Muslim property’ leaves a lot to be desired.
First and foremost, the definition of Muslim property is quite myopic. They attempt to make the world to believe that a property can only be referred to as Muslim property if it existed after Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje was sworn in as the Mufti of Uganda on 6th January 2001. Meaning that – before Shk. Mubaje became Mufti there was no Muslim property.
Secondly, they want everyone to believe that there was no selling or stealing of Muslim property before Shk. Mubaje became the Mufti of Uganda.
Thirdly, they ignorantly or stubbornly refuse to understand the difference between selling and leasing.
By granting UMSC leaders the custodianship of Asian properties, President Idi Amin Dada’s dream (May Allah forgive him) was to help the council generate funds out of these properties so that by the time the Asians repossess them, UMSC would have generated enough funds and put up its own structures that would make it self-reliant.
This dream was never fulfilled because by the time some of the properties were apparently repossessed by the so called rightful owners, not even a modern toilet facility was constructed by the then UMSC leaders from the money collected from them.
If I may ask, who witnessed the handover ceremony of the Muslim properties (including Kibuli Mosque) that were entrusted to the then Mohamedan Chief (Muslim leader) Prince Mbogo and his subsequent successors from 1900 to 1st June 1972? When UMSC was inaugurated. Where are these properties?
According to a book “The life of Prince Badru Kakungulu Wasajja” written by Prof. A.B.K Kasozi, Kibuli Mosque was constructed by funds solicited from all Muslims with the help of money donated by Asians. It was supposed to be a Muslim unity Mosque.
In this document, I have revealed what had been concealed from Ugandan Muslims concerning UMSC properties. I have brought to light the truth about UMSC properties that were either negligently lost or illegally disposed off by former UMSC leaders or infamously repossessed by the so called rightful owners in 1991-98.
Ever since its inception in 1973, UMSC has had several leaders who in their capacities did little or nothing to contribute to the development of UMSC as an institution.
Did you know that fraud and mismanagement of UMSC/Muslim affairs started right from the time President Idi Amin Dada was overthrown?
Do you know the number and value of properties UMSC had 42 years ago?
They were over eight hundred and they included factories, housing estates, lands, ranches, landing sites, schools, vehicles and Mosques all scattered all over the country and worth billions of shillings.
The UMSC factories were managed by its industrial and commercial arm known as Industrial and Commercial Holdings Limited and its general manager was M W Kiggundu (see attached document). They included:
- Ugastat Ltd
- Uganda Brushware Manufacturers Ltd
- Uganda Ranchers Ltd
- Consolidated Properties Ltd.
- Liiso Publications Ltd
- Star Garment Industry Ltd
- Hababi Hotel Ltd
- Al-Attas Touring Company with a fleet of vehicles numbering up to 12 Omni buses.
- Kitovu Printery
- Lathe Machine Workshop
The ranches were organised under a UMSC company called M/S Uganda Ranchers Ltd (see document attached). They included:
- Mijera/Nakakola Buruli Ranch
- Kiryandongo Ranch
- Masaka Ranch
- Mawogola
- Bunya Ranch
- Ankole Ranch
All the above properties belonged to UMSC before Shk. Mubaje became Mufti but at the time he assumed office in 2001, all the industries had vanished in thin air. The ranches had been illegally personalized or sold off.
Before I share the list of those lost or sold Muslim properties, I should make the following clarifications;
Plots 30, 102/104 on William Street were never sold. UMSC sub leased them with the mandate of the Executive Committee and the money was used to construct the commercial perimeter complex at the UMSC Headquarters which fetches over 40 million per month and it will fetch over 80 million once it is fully completed. Part of this money is used to pay UMSC staff salaries (see the attached photos of the complex).
It should be remembered that this property had also been illegally disposed off by previous UMSC leaders. It took H.E Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje’s personal effort to recover it in 2003.
Another case of dishonesty or negligence by past UMSC leaders was on the issue of the UMSC Head Quarters Old Kampala land title. During President Amin’s time in office, the then Commissioner of Lands and Survey wrote to UMSC requesting the then administration to pay UGX 15,850/= in order to be allocated a land title, but the council officials never paid and UMSC never acquired the land title until 1999 during the NRM government. It took President Museveni’s intervention for the title to be secured during the leadership of the late Shk. Muhammad Semakula.
Below are some of UMSC properties that were sold or lost between 1973 and 1998:.
KAMPALA
KHOJA SHIA ISHNASIR JAMAT
1. Plot No. 46 Namirembe Road
2. Plot No. 108 Nakivubo North Road
3. Khoja Shia Ishabasuru jamat Primary School
4. Plot 2 1/23 Rashid Khamis Road
5. Plot 10 opposite Akamba Bus
6. 6 Wilson Road New Secondary School
7. 96-98 William Street 12 flats
8. Plot No. 84-90 Nakivubo Road
9. Plot No. 38 Namirembe Road
DO WOOD! BOHORA JAMAT CORPORATION
10. Plot No. 23 William Street *
DO WOOD! BOHORA LIMITED
11. Plot No. 30 William Street*
MUSLIM SUNNI ASSOCIATION
12. Mosque at Plot No. 17/A and C Entebbe road and Plot No. 4 SNAY BIN STREET
13. Old Kampala Mosque and Education complex at Plot No.45, 47-51 Rashid Khamis
Road.
14. Plot 6 Martin Road
15. Plot No. 1 Barclay Lane
16. Plot 88 South Street
17. Muslim Cemetery at Archer Road Kololo
AGA KHAN ISMAILIA COMMUNITY
18. Plot 6 and 8 Martin Road
19. Plot 39 A-39 B Martin Road
20. Plot 4 and 5 Rubaga Place
21. Plot 1 Rubaga Road
22. Four Blocks of Flats Mussajalumba Road
23. Aga Khan Club Old Kampala
24. Plot 2, 4 and Hoima Road
25. Aga Khan Education Complex Kololo Hill Drive
26. Main Aga Khan Mosque Old Kampala
27. Aga Khan Mosque Namirembe Road
28. Plot No. 17/19 Kampala Road
29. Plot No. 12/14 City Square
30. Diamond Trust Properties Limited
31. Mosque and Mohammed High School, Wandegeya
32. H.H Aga Khan Sec. School and Primary
33. H.H Aga Khan Hostel
34. Plot No. 8A, Kabalega Close – Nakawa
35. Plot No. Ml 89 Kabalega Close — Nakawa
36. Plot No. 18, Buvuma Road
37. Muslim Sports Club at Entebbe Road
38. Nakulabye House: 64 Houses from plots No. 461 to525
39. Plot No. 3, Rubaga Place
40. Plot No. 92 William Street
41. Plot No. 78 South Street
42. Plot No. 86/8 8 William Street
43. Lower Kololo Houses Sturrock Road (4 Double stories flats)
44. Plot No. 2 Snay Bin Amir Street
45. Plot No. ito No. 10 Kasalina Road (Namirembe)
46. Plot No. 24-26 Mackay Road
47. Makerere Plots No. 90 to 16
48. Plot No. 5 Martin Road
49. Plot No. 59 Nkrumah Road (formally Salisbury Rd.)
50. H.H The Agha Khan Jubilee Gift Fund (U) Limited
51. Plot No.2 and 170, Hoima Road
52. Plot No. 24 Makerere Rd. Kampala
53. Plot No. 12 Prince Charles Drive
54. Plot No. 24 Mackay Road
55. Plot No. 2 Hill Lane Kampala
56. Ploy No. 11 Namirembe Road
57. Plot No. 603 Nakulabye Road
58. Plot No. 20 Bokassa Street
59. Plot No. 9 Namirembe Road
60. Plot No. 284/ 285 Namirembe Township
61. Plot No. 1 Old Kampala Road
62. Plot No. 103 Kibuga Hoima Rd.
63. Plot No. 1-3 Kiswa Rd.
64. Plot No. 5 Martin Rd.
65. Plot No. 46 1/525 Nakulabye Kibuga
66. Plot No. 1-10 Kasalina Rd
67. Plot No. Sturrock Rd. Lower Kololo
MASINDI
68. Plot No. 7A/B Commercial Street
69. Plot No. 9/A/B/C
70. Plot No. 28 Tonque Street
71. Plot No. 18/20 Kamese Road
72. Plot No. Aga Khan Mosque (Old)
73. Plot No. 18 Grade Housing Estate
74. Plot No. 20
75. Masindi Port Mosque
HOIMA TOWN
76. Old Toro Road Mosque
77. Plot No. 7 Main Street
78. Plot No. 26 Main Street
79. Plot No. 32 Main Street
80. Plot No. 3 Butyaba Road
81. Karugira Mosque
82. Kakumiro Aga Khan Mosque
83. Bulisa Isinshiaria Mosque
MBARARA TOWN
84. Plot No. 16 High Street Mbarara
85. Plot No. 68/70 High Street Mbarara
86. Aga Khan Primary School
87. Plot No. 6A & 6B Kakoba Road
88. Plot No. 4A & 4B Kakoba Road
89. Plot No. 8A/8 B Kakoba Road
90. Plot No. 2/18 Busunku Road
91. Plot No. 16/20 Busunku Road
92. Kafunjo Mosque
93. Ntungamo Mosque
94. Rwantaba Mosque
KIGEZI DISTRICT
95. Aga Khan Mosque — Stadium Road — Kabale
MASAKA
96. Plot No.7 1 Elm Rd. Masaka
97. Plot No. 73 Elm Rd Masaka
98. Plot No. 5 Elm Rd. Masaka
99. Plot No. 14/20 Circular Rd. Masaka
100. Plot No. 6/10 Bwala Hill Masaka
101. Plot No. 12/14 Bwala Hill Masaka
102. Plot No. 3 0/40 Katwe Road Masaka
103. Plot No. 42/48 Victoria Rd. Masaka
104. Plot No. 21 Edward Avenue Masaka
105. Plot No. 3 1/35 Tibukuuza Rd. Materre Masaka
106. Plot No. 13/23 George Street Masaka
107. Plot No. 20/3 0 Victoria Road
108. Plot No. 30 Bwala Hill
109. Plot No. 32/3 6 Victoria Road Masaka
110. Bukoto trading Center Mosque
111. Butenga Trading Center Mosque
112. Kakuuto Trading Center Mosque
113. Kagologolo Trading Center Mosque
114. Kalisizo Trading Center Mosque
115. Kalungu Trading Center Mosque
116. Kawoko Trading Center Mosque
117. Kyabakuza Trading Center Mosque
118. Kyotera Trading Center Mosque
119. Lyantonde Trading Center Mosque
120. Mbirizi Trading Center Mosque
121. Kaboyo Trading Center Mosque
WEST BUGANDA
122. Mpigi Mosque
123. Mitala — Maria Mosque
124. Nabusanke Mosque
125. Kiriri Mosque
126. Kinoni Mosque
127. Kinoni Aga Khan School
128. Bukandu Mosque — Bar
129. Plot No. 8 Kinyo Rd. Bombo
130. Plot Certificate No. 30486 Nabusanke Cemetery
JINJA
131. Plot No. 29-35 Babula Rd.
132. Plot No. 27 Gakhale Rd East
133. Plot No. 7 Iganga Mosque
134. Plot No. 14 I4aji Tamachi Place
135. Plot No. 25 IgangaRd.
136. Plot No. 1-2 radio Rd.
137. Plot No. 11 Muvule Crescent M. Club
138. Lonan Club Elgon Avenue
139. Plot No. 5 Radio Rd.
140. Plot No. 30 Lumba Road
141. Plot No. 32 Lumba Road
142. Plot No. g Iganga Rd.
143. Kamuli Mosque Hitimba Rd.
144. Kalire Mosque Iganga Rd.
145. Mbulamuti Mosque Kamuli Rd.
146. Nursery School, Radio Rd.
BUSOGA
147. Plot No. 15 Kitimbo Rd. Kamuli
148. Plot No. 11 Kitimbo Rd. Kamuli
149. Plot No. 13 Kitimbo Rd. Kamuli
150. Plot No. 33/35 Bugabula Rd. Jinja
151. Plot No. 20/22 Elgon Avenue
152. Plot No. 24/34 Gokhle Rd. Jinja
153. Plot No. 2/10 Radio Rd. Jinja
154. Plot No. 16 First Lane Jinja
155. Plot No. 29/3 1 Gabula Rd. Jinja
MBALE
156. Plot No. 6 Republic Street
157. Plot No. 8 Republic Street
158. Plot No. 22 Nkokonjeru Rd.
159. Plot No. 4 Bwana Muchale Rd.
160. Plot No. 19 Bwana Muchale Rd.
161. Plot No. 1, 2, 3 Kirk Crescent Rd.
162. Plot No. 7 Kirk Crescent Rd.
163. P10t No. 2 Buteleja Green Rd.
164. Plot No. 4 Buteleja Green Rd.
165. Plot No. 8 Buteleja Green Rd.
166. Plot No. 10 Buteleja Green Rd.
167. Plot No. 12 Buteleja Green Rd.
168. Plot No. 206 Masaba Avenue
169. Plot No. 19 Aga Khan Dispensary Naboa Rd.
170. Aga Khan Sports Club 2 Buildings
171. Aga Khan Nursery School
172. Aga Khan Hostel
173. Pallisa Rd. Aga Khan Oswal Community X Center
174. Aga Khan Lodge Buwalasi View on Nabuvango Rise Rd.
SOROTI
175. Plot No. 40 Haridoa Rd.
176. Plot No. 33 School Rd Soroti
177. Plot No. 13/15 Soroti Avenue
178. Plot No. 24 Juma Shai Rd.
179. Plot No. 11-17 Hostel Haridas Rd.
LIRA
180. Lira Aga Khan Mosque Soroti Rd.
181. Plot No.2 Bazar Rd.
182. Plot No. Aga Khan Mosque at Atura
183. Minakula Aga Khan School
KITGUM
184. Aga Khan Mosque 144 Uhuru Drive
GULU
185. Plot No. 3-5 Atwal Rd.
1 86. Plot No. 20 Andrea Olala Rd.
187. Plot No. 2-4 Andrea Olala Rd.
188. Plot No.7 AtwalaRd.
189. Plot No. 22-24 Atwala Rd.
190. Plot No. 1012 Achili Rd.
191. Plot No. 9/11 AtwalRd. Gulu
192. Plot No. 2/4 Lagala Rd. Gulu
EAST BUGANDA
193. Ngogwe Town
194. Buike Town
195. Kayunga Town
196. Wobulenzi Town
197. Bombo Town
198. Nagalama Town
(All properties that belonged to Indians in the above East Buganda towns were
Entrusted to UMSC)
TORO DISTRICT – FORT PORTAL
199. Plot No. 68/80 Kiboga Rd.
200. Plot 6 Mugurusi Rd.
201. Aga Khan Nursery School, Mugurusi Rd.
202. Plot No. 13, 15 and 17
203. Aga Khan Mosque Plot No. 3 7-43
WEST NILE DISTRICT
204. Plot No. 3 Rhino Camp Rd.
205. Mosque Adumi Rd.
206. Plot No. 20-24 Rhino Camp
MUBENDE
207. Plot No. 33/3 9 Main Street
208. Plot No. 11 Block A
209. Plot No. 59 Mityana Rd.
210. Plot No. 18 Mubende
BUNYORO
211. Plot No. 37/39 Masindi Port Rd.
LANGO
212. Plot No. 2 and 4 Oyam Rd. Lira
213. Plot No: 9 Block .A. Atura
ANKOLE
214. Plot 20/26 Bachuku Rd. Mbarara (Busunku)
215. Plot No. 1 Stadium Rd.Mbarara
216, Plot No. 224 Kikagati Ankole
217. Plot No. 7 Block A Kafunzo
218. Plot No. 22/24 Bulemba Rd.
MBALE
219. Plot No. 127/137 Pallisa Rd. Mbale
220. Plot No. 53/57 Pallisa Rd.
221. Plot No.3 Block A Butiru Rd.
222. Plot No. 7 Block B Butiru Rd.
TORO
223. Plot No. 31 Mosque Fort Portal
224. Plot No. 3 7/47 Kuppa Rd Fort Portal
225. Plot No. 39 Fort Portal
226. 331 Fort Portal
227. Plot No. 3 Butiti Rd.
KIGEZI
228. Plot No. 179/64 stadium Rd Kabale
TORORO
229. Plot No. 3/5 Block B Busia
KAMPALA
230. Industrial Estate Port Bell
231. Brush Factory Kawempe
232. Diamond Jubilee Investment Trust Limited
233. Jubilee Insurance Company Limited, 14 Parliament Avenue, Kampala (IPS)
In addition to the above, there was the Najanankumbi Estate which comprised of 18 Bungalows. These were also disposed off through dubious means.
Had our past leaders been foresighted and honest enough, UMSC would be standing tall as one of the wealthiest and most powerful institutions in Uganda today
And as clearly indicated above, the Plot No. 30 on William Street was never a Mosque. It was simply transformed into a prayer place in 1983 following the expulsion of the then Mufti Shk. Kassim Mulumba from the then UMSC Headquarters at the now Agakhan Mosque at Old Kampala.
Sheikh Mulumba turned the William Street building into his headquarters after it was given to him by the late Haji Abdel Zedi of Kabira (25 miles on Kampala – Masaka Road). It was previously a store.
In conclusion, the current UMSC administration has never sold any Muslim property. The selling was done by the previous UMSC leaders. Instead of attacking the current UMSC administration for subleasing a single property and using the proceeds to construct a commercial perimeter complex which generates millions of shillings per month, UMSC detractors should be asking the past UMSC leaders the whereabouts of the above listed Muslim properties.
When Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje assumed office, he found about 8 land titles of Muslim properties. Today, UMSC has over 300 Muslim land titles which were secured by the current UMSC administration. May Allah reward His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje and members of his administration for this accomplishment.
WAY FORWARD
In regard to the above therefore, I propose an inquiry into all lost UMSC properties acquired since 42 years ago. This would do the council more good since it would dig out all those who stole what and how, so as to clean the Image of the council once and for all.
The Writer is the UMSC Public Relations Officer. He can be contacted on Mobile 0772/0701 – 409504 or Email. pro_umsc@yahoo.com