Why Owek.Al-hajj Prof.Dr Muhamadi Lubega Should be Elected Chairperson UMSC
UMSC’s Electoral Commission through its Secretary Badru Katerega Kaggwa on Tuesday this week closed the nominations of candidates for UMSC National Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and cleared Four candidates for the UMSC Chair and Three for the UMSC Deputy Chair. The Four include Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha (RCC Nakawa), Hajj Twaha Gwaivu(outgoing Chairman of East Buganda Muslim Region),Hajj Hassan Basajjabalaba (ex-UMSC Chair) and Owek.Al-hajj Prof.Dr.Dr Muhamadi Lubega Kisambira. The Three are Yunus Mugabe,Dr.Edris Sserugo Kasenene and Dr. Haroon Sinan Ganatusanga .
By close of business on Saturday 3rd December,2022, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council shall have a substantive Chairman to run its affairs going forward.
Who is Who of the UMSC Candidates:
Owek.Al-hajj Prof.Dr. Muhamadi Lubega Kisambira.
Born 52 years ago to the late Hajj Kisambira of Namulanda in present day Luuka District, Professor Kisambira holds a joint Ph.D. in Medicine from Karolinska University Stockholm Sweden and Makerere University, a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University.
He is the current Chairman of Muslim Professionals and Entrepreneurs besides the outgoing Chairman of UMSC Luuka District.
He is also the 1st Deputy Premier of Busoga Kingdom who is in charge of finance and administration, a prestigious position that enables him to run the daily errands at the Kyabazinga’s institution. He is a Researcher with World Health Organization, Director of Research with United States’ National Institute of Health in charge of East, Central and Southern Africa. Besides being an International Health Consultant and proprietor of several Nursing and Midwifery schools in Iganga and Lugazi, he is also the founder of Lugazi Mixed Primary School-a model school in the area.
Of all the Four candidates, only Prof.Kisambira has made his Manifesto known ahead of time and is said to have traversed the entire country reaching out to the electorates for their mandate. In his well laid down Manifesto, he chronologically reveals that in the last 5 years alone, as a philanthropist,he has spent over UgX1.5 billion shillings educating underprivileged students across the country. Its also observed that he has spent over UgX500million renovating some of the dilapidated Muslim schools in the country in addition to contributing to the construction of Mosques and welfare of the underprivileged members of society. It’s on record that in his capacity as the Chairman of Muslim Professionals and Entrepreneurs,Alhajj Kisambira spearheaded the fundraising and extension of support to the different communities in the country during the covid-19 pandemic. His efforts paid off handsomely as many starving families were rescued in their times of need.
In his elaborative manifesto, Prof.Kisambira is fronting a ten point agenda that emphasizes unity of purpose, accountability, social transformation, transparency, advocacy, lobbying for the advancement of Muslims in the country ,exchange programs with the Muslim world, capacity building and economic empowerment.
A knowledgeable person we talked to for this article on condition of anonymity so as to freely speak his mind argued that the next UMSC Chairman needs a tested person with entrepreneurial skills, is a moderate and not an extremist as far as Islam is concerned.
“You do not need a chairman who will use UMSC to bang deals, use UMSC as his clearing house for self benefits. You need a chairman who is morally up right and commands public support and trust short of which UMSC will be on a wrong trajectory”, he said adding that UMSC needs a total overhaul in terms of rebranding its reputation and image generally. The same interviewee reveals that Prof. Kisambira possesses these qualities and seems to be a team player compared to his competitors coupled with a good working relationship with the others.
“As chairman of the Muslim Professionals and Entrepreneurs,he has tried to breathe a new lease of life at Old Kampala and many elites are all praises for the current order at Uganda’s prestigious Mosque”.
Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha who is the current Deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge Nakawa Division, holds a Master’s degree in Energy Law & Policy from Uganda Christian University- UCU, Mukono,a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from IUIU, a Bachelor of Sharia & Islamic Law from the International Islamic University, Medina Saudi Arabia,a Certificate in Administrative Law-MUK, Diploma in Law,LDC, Diploma in the Arabic language- International Islamic University Medina Saudi Arabia and Diploma in Education, Kyambogo University. He was a Commissioner in the just concluded UMSC Constitutional Review Commission.
Hajj Twaha Gwaivu:
He is a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Nkumba University, a Diploma in Commerce from Uganda College of Commerce, Certificate in Accounts from Glasgow College- Scotland UK. He is a businessman and proprietor of Taggy Television.
Haj Hassan Basajjabalaba is the former UMSC national chairperson and proprietor of Kampala International University and Haks Enterprises among a string of other businesses.
Dr. Ganatusanga holds a Ph.D in Education Management from Sudan University of Science and Technology, Masters of Education (Education Management)- from IUIU and a Bachelor of Arts (Humanities, Islamic Studies & Arabic language from the International University of Africa- Khartoum in the Republic of Sudan.
Prof.Dr.Edris Sserugo Kasenene is the former UMSC Secretary General and holds both a PhD and Master of (Arts) Degree in Educational Management and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Makerere University. He obtained an International Certificate in Education Sector Planning from UNESCO headquartered in France.
Yunus Mugabe possesses a Master’s and Bachelor’s of Mass Communication degrees from Makerere University and a Diploma in Journalism from Uganda Management Institute.
As earlier said, the elections for the UMSC National Chairperson and Deputy will take place on Saturday 3rd December 2022