Cleric tells Muslims to
embrace EAC
AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA
The Director of Sharia in Uganda
Sheikh Rajab Kakooza has urged Muslims to embrace unity so that they benefit
from the formation of the East African Community.
Sheikh Kakooza made the remarks
during the official launch of Unity of African Muslims, commonly known as
Umoja Wa Warisalam Wa Africa Wa Mashariki [UWAM] in Kampala last week .
The organization was formed to unite Muslims in EAC member
countries.
Sheikh Kakooza, also the founding
chairman UWAM said, Muslims in Uganda and other countries have missed out on
both education and trade in the region due to disunity which has denied
them a chance to realize the benefits of the EAC.
“Muslims are increasingly known
for wrangles amongst them, but this situation can be changed if we unite under
such organisations and start businesses and education
institutions to benefit Muslims in the region,” he said. Leaders in the region have severally been blamed for not
involving citizens in the integration of the region which is likely to hinder
the full attainment of a political federation.
The Muslim
clerics from the six EAC member states were meeting in Kampala to chart a way
forward for UWAM and how to operationalize it to benefit Muslims in the region,
calling on EAC legislators to support their cause. The EAC is the regional
intergovernmental organisation bringing together five countries including;
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The Treaty for establishment of
the community was signed on November 30, 1999 and entered into force on July
7,2000 following its ratification by the original three partner states –Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda while Rwanda and Burundi became members of the
community in 2007 .
UWAM has so far managed to put up
two projects ( a mosque and school) in Lamu Province in Western Kenya which
will be commissioned by Prince Kassim Nakibinge on December 27 and it
has so far united Muslims in the region to celebrate Islamic holidays like Idd
on similar dates.
UWAM is a replica of East African
Muslims Welfare Association which collapsed in the 1950s where the late Prince
Badru Kakungulu as a founder member . The organization helped to build schools,
health centres , mosques and training of Sheikhs in the then three countries.
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I thought I couldn’t go on, I forced myself to keep going .My success is based
on persistence, not luck.” Norman Lear
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