The government has taken over the management of Kabigi Taqwa Islamic institute in Bukomansimbi District in an attempt to ease the tension between Makerere University lecturer Dr. Haruna Jjemba and the Kabigi Muslim community over its administration.
Ms. Ankunda Sharon, the Bukomansimbi Resident District Commissioner-RDC announced the decision on behalf of the District Security Committee at the school on Thursday.
Speaking at the meeting, Ankunda said their decision is in line with two court orders arising from Civil Suit No: 002 of 2022 Kabigi Taqwa Foundation Limited versus Abdul Jabbar Idris Mawanda, in which Dr. Jjemba as the owner of the school complained of trespass on its land.
“There was an order issued by Lady Justice Victoria N.N.Katamba on May 20th, 2022 maintaining the status quo at the time of filling the application,” she said.
Adding that “the foundation, which runs the school the last term continue to do so until the miscellaneous Appeal is determined.”
She also ordered that non of the disputing parties should harvest the trees on the school land or construct any other building until the determination of the appeal.
The new orders nullified the earlier one issued by His worship Borore K Julius, the Deputy Registrar Masaka High Court on April 6th, 2022 that left the School in the hands of Sheikh Abdul Jabbar Idris Mawanda.
“So now after careful scrutiny, we have realized that there is tension between Dr. Haruna Jjemba and the community. We are also aware that the school has registered P7 candidates who are soon writing their final exams.
It’s the Gov’t’s Policy that all School going children are at school. Since it is our responsibility to enforce the Gov’t Policy, starting on Monday, Sept 12th, 2022, the District Education Officer – DEO and CAO shall manage the school as the security situation normalizes pending the disposal of the court case,” Ms. Ankunda announced under thunderous applause from the community.
As a result, the police and other security personnel ordered all the people to vacate the school compound immediately leaving behind resident teaching staff.
History of Kabigi Taqwa Islamic institute several decades ago prominent Muslims including the late Haj Hamedi Basajjabaka, the father of Dr. Jjemba teamed up and donated land to host several Muslim projects.
Haji Basajjabaka donated 5 acres of land, late Sakib Bagenda 2 acres, his son the late Haj Abubakar Mugerwa one acre, Haj Musa Katungulu 7 acres and the late Muhammad Tabula one acre.
Their vision was to have a center comprising schools right from the lower level to secondary, Health Center, Mosque, student dormitories, and a school farm.
The said development drew enthusiasm from Muslims in the area and other places who joined hands to donate funds for the proposed developments.
They later managed to secure funding from Arab countries. As time went by, the school gained recognition among many others that offer Islamic theological education such as Bilal Islamic institute and Bugembe Islamic Institute among others.
When UMSC was established in 1972, Kabigi Taqwa just like the rest of the Muslim-founded Schools came under its management.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t titled. In 1982, UMSC lobbied for its teachers’ salaries from Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia-based International Charity.
The salary scheme ran until the early 1990s. It is reported that in 1991, Sheikh Ali Kivumbi, the acting Principal of the School in consolation with the School Management Committee hand-picked by Dr. Sheikh Haruna Jjemba as Acting Principal who later chose to register the school under his private company Kabigi Taqwa Foundation Limited.
This didn’t go down well with Muslims who accused Dr. Jjemba of scheming to grab their school.
However, Dr. Jjemba justified his decision, saying that his late father was one of the donors of the land hosting the school, adding that he wanted to provide all the technical support to sustain the vision of the founders resulting in endless court battles.
The Community mobilized themselves and identified Sheikh Abdul Jabbar Idris Mawanda, one of the old boys of the school as their team leader to defend their interest.
Mawanda has been very instrumental in supporting the school programs including paying teachers’ salaries, which promoted Dr. Jjemba to drag him to Court for alleged trespass on his property. The matter is pending in Masaka High Court.
