The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has revealed that the late Al hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja is an irreplaceable resource that will be dearly missed by the country and Muslim community.
According Mubaje, Kivejinja who succumbed to COVID-19 at Mulago National Referral Hospital last week has been a very strong pillar in the country and Muslim affairs.
“Hon Kivejinja has been a very committed and loyal to his country and the Muslim community,” Mubaje said.
He said that the late was a very proud Muslim noting that he wasn’t ashamed of his faith like some educated people do.
“He often showed off as a Muslim despite his powerful positions in government.”
He was speaking at the funeral prayers for the late Kivejinja held at the National Mosque at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council- UMSC headquarters at Old Kampala on Sunday morning.
The Mufti also noted that Kivejinja played a very big role in the establishment of Islamic University in Uganda where he served as Vice Council Chairperson.
“A lot of children have gone through the hands of Hon. Kivejinja as IUIU Vice Council chairperson. He will be dearly missed because of his contribution to the Muslim community,” he said.
Mubaje also expressed concern about the escalation of COVID-19 infection and none compliance to the Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs.
“It’s unfortunate that people have relaxed on the SOPs at a time when the rate of infections seems to be escalating,” he said adding that government and the president had done their best to control infections but Ugandans have abandoned the Standard Operating Procedures.
He reiterated his call to Muslims to comply with the SOPs agreed upon with government while reopening Mosques.
“I want to remind Muslims to implement the SOPs. We have heard mosques that have deliberately refused to comply with the SOPs, we shall have them closed or ask the authorities to close them until they agree to comply with the SOPs. Stopping people from complying is actually murder,” he said.
“Actually, people should perform the early morning and night prayers in their homes. It is permissible have justification because of the pandemic just like the case was with the lockdown,” he said.