UGANDA MUSLIMS AND THE 2016 ELECTIONS

Assalamu alaikum. As the Muslim community evolves, so too will its politics.

It’s heartening to see much of the Uganda Muslim community engage in heavy discussion on this election but none of the Muslim leaders has come out with a document to publicly give guidance on what Muslims want from the next govt. Whether it’s to question the way the religious-political cake is distributed(the president pledging 10 billions to the Catholics for shrines), or our cooperation with the government, Muslims have much to contribute to an existing and critical discourse.

What we need to remember though is that Islam frames the way in which we seek to enter and contribute to the conversation. We are not political observers offering insight from a distance, nor are we contributing from a godless ontology through which we then feign universality.

Islam defines for us the problem and Islam defines for us the solution. Let us keep this in mind so as to not adopt what will ultimately be a self-defeating politics.

Now, back to the discussion..…

When the sincerity of Museveni’s promises to Muslims and the rest of Ugandans is questioned, some people cry insensitivity and insist the discussion be left for another day. For instance,he has promised some compensation to the victims of the 1979 mini-genocide in Mbarara, but you have got to ask yourself:1- what’s in it for him this time? , 2- why now, after 30 years in power?

Recently, as many of you may have heard, there were newspaper articles published that theorized the murders of Muslim sheikhs, but no report has been published by the govt so far. We are still basically in darkness on who’s killing our leaders, a factor that has made some of us to stay away from that country for a while. Honestly, Its scary to be killed and absolutely nothing is done about it. I sometimes wish I knew how to make a gun and bullets myself without going to any factory, such that I could distribute them to all Muslim leaders to protect themselves.

Secondly, I’ve only come to realize how little support, we as an honourable Muslim community, give to each other in times of hardship. I am guilty of this myself, but I’ve only just started to feel the great importance of this unfortunately when it hit home.There’s a sheikh(tabliq faction) in prison right now whose case has been as confusing as the candidacy of Mbabazi in these elections. I have forgotten his name but I think he was due for bail at some point and the trial was postponed or something like that. But some Muslims are celebrating this brother’s problems instead of trying as much as possible to help him.

How do we do this to each other, while Allah SWT honoured us with this amazing religion we all share, and yet we let each individual suffer on their own. The imagery is of hungry wolves attacking, and instead of staying all close together, we seem to scamper away like little mice with our heads down. Is this the Izzah (honour) that we hold as one Ummah. It would be great to see us actually implement the hadith of the Prophet SAW that we are, as one body. We all know it in words but really contemplate, how have you actually shown that with your actions. Allah SWT says (translation): Shall we then treat the Muslimeen (people of faith) like the Mujrimeen (People of Sin)? ((68:35))

Imagine if each time one Muslim was unfairly treated in any way, a respected group of 3,000 Muslims responded, just voicing their support via social media,newspapers and radio stations to the individual and his family rather than making them feel like a stray sheep from amongst the herd. (It will be great to discuss ideas of how we can do this, in an organized fashion). Doing so, will not only unite our efforts, but also potentially deter attackers.

Some will probably be thinking -but how do we know that he is being unfairly treated? The premise of “innocent until proven guilty” should be there not “guilty because the media said so”. Also, there is a definite harshness that exists amongst us sometimes when we don’t necessarily agree with each other’s opinions. Do any two people share the exact same ideas and opinions? Where is our respect for different understandings? Psychology studies have taught us the vastness and magnificence of the human brain. Utmost respect should be given to one another, especially as Muslims where we agree on who our Creator is, and who our beloved, noble Prophet is, and on our purpose in this gleamingly short world. Aren’t we all trying to please our Creator?

Well, I wish everyone peaceful elections. Please vote wisely and find a way to protect your votes: don’t go back home before votes are counted, and take pictures of the results. We also pray to Allah to give strength to our brother,Dr.Badru Kiggundu, whom i respect so much, to do the right thing…..i must add ‘this time’!

Wassalam

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*Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba*

Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.com/