In the early 1940s, Hajji Juma Tomusange with the help of some Arab teachers broke tradition and started an Islamic school structured the same way as the Christian missionaries’ schools.
Muslims at the time disliked schools by the Christian missionaries, owing to the effects of the defeat they suffered during the 1880s religious wars in Buganda. Because of the Muslim influence in the socio-political and economic affairs of Buganda, conservative Muslims detested anything that seemed to have links to the Anglican colonialists.
Despite the negativity, Tomusange soldiered on with his project of starting a formal school where young Muslims received Islamic religious instruction. He called the school, Lukalu Qur’an School and with time, it produced some of the most prominent Muslim clerics.
Some of them have risen to positions of leadership such as Maulana Abdul Razake Matovu, who went on to become the first Mufti of Uganda in 1972 at the formation of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC).
Matovu also pioneered the translation of the Qur’an into Luganda. Others are former muftis, Sheikh Kassimu Mulumba, Sheikh Muhammad Ssemakula and Sheikh Ali Kivumbi.
The school later gave birth to similar institutions such as Kabigi Islamic Institute in present-day Bukomansimbi district, Katuumu Islamic Institute in Luweero, Nsotoka Islamic Institute in Kayunga and Bilal Islamic Institute Kakiri in Wakiso district.
THE DRIVE
When it went on air in 2015, Salam TV and sister radio station Pearl FM embarked on a drive to mobilise Muslims to rehabilitate some of these institutions that had gone down due to a range of factors.
Through live shows where viewers and listeners would call in and contribute, more than Shs 275m was raised for the reconstruction of Lukalu Qur’an School and another Shs 210m was raised during last Ramadan for Kabasanda mosque in Butambala district.
Butambala is central to the spread of Islam in Uganda, being the only county in Buganda kingdom that was allocated to Muslims after the coming into force of the 1900 Buganda agreement.
The district’s position as the cradle of Islam in Uganda formed part of the decision for the two Islamic broadcasters to prioritise the institutions there.
“In every month of Ramadan, Salam TV mobilizes its viewers to give support to any project to uplift Ugandans generally.
Our cardinal principle is to respect and value all humanity for better livelihoods and a brighter environment,” Abdul-Karim Kaliisa, the Salam TV/Pearl FM managing director, said during the handover of the school, and launch of the reconstruction works for the mosque on July 7.
“The success of these projects lies in being trustworthy and accountable to the public. This has shown us that the people are eager to contribute to the reconstruction of our institutions as long as those spearheading the work are accountable and at the same time show results,” Kaliisa added.
The general secretary of the Council of Imminent Sheikhs, Dr Abdulnoor Kaliisa, urged Muslims to value investment in such projects since they are not only rewarding to them before Allah but also complement the work of Muslim leaders.
“There is a lot of administrative work for the Muslim leaders and it may take them some years to get to the ground to do such projects besides being limited by resources,” Dr Kaliisa said.
Salam TV chairman, Kin Ibrahim Kariisa pledged further commitment by his company, KIN Group, which is also the parent company of NBS TV in supporting people-led initiatives.
Once completed, the Kabasanda mosque will be the biggest mosque in both Butambala and Mpigi districts.
sadabkk@observer.ug
