UGANDA, Sembabule | Real Muloodi News | In a significant legal development, the Uganda Muslim Lawyers Association (UMLAS) has taken the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, to the High Court, accusing him of involvement in the fraudulent sale of Muslim properties.
This legal action also involves businessman Justus Kyabahwa and revolves around the alleged corrupt sale of a two-square-mile land in Sembabule District, a transaction that has jeopardised other Muslim properties, including the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters.
UMLAS contends that the entire process leading to the sale was tainted with corruption from the start. The association argues that Mufti Mubajje and Hajji Ramathan Mugalu, the former secretary-general of UMSC, breached their fundamental religious duty by selling the Sembabule land to Kyabahwa.
The lawsuit, filed under public interest litigation, seeks declarations from the court, including the assertion that the sale was a breach of trust and fiduciary duty to the detriment of UMSC and the wider Muslim community.
Among the declarations sought by UMLAS are that Mufti Mubajje and Mugalu accepted corrupt inducements for the sale, the agreement was illegal due to the inclusion of interest prohibited by Sharia law, and the transaction was orchestrated through collusion, connivance, deceit, and fraud.
The association maintains that the sale was not intended for implementation but was a calculated and corrupt scheme to unjustly deprive UMSC and the Muslim community of their rightful properties.
The legal dispute traces back to the sale of the two-square-mile land in Sembabule district to businessman Justus Kyabahwa in June 2020.
The land had a 15-year lease with Enterprise Holding Services, which posed challenges for the transfer of ownership.
The inability to fulfil the agreement’s terms led to a substantial debt of USh19 billion, prompting the High Court to issue a no-objection order for the attachment of various UMSC properties.
The lawsuit argues that the attachment of properties, intended to recover Kyabahwa’s money, is part of a coordinated and fraudulent scheme by Mubaje, Mugalu, and Kyabahwa.
The lawyers are seeking a declaration that the sale agreement is not binding on UMSC due to fraud, corruption, and illegalities, rendering it null and void.
Furthermore, UMLAS urges the court to hold the three defendants liable for any losses or liabilities arising from the land sale agreement, emphasising that such burdens should not be borne by the Uganda Muslim community.
The association contends that Mufti Mubajje, Mugalu, and Kyabahwa were well aware of the legal and practical challenges surrounding the agreement, making it an orchestrated and unjust scheme against UMSC and the Muslim community.
As this legal battle unfolds, the Muslim community awaits the court’s judgment, which could have far-reaching implications for property rights and transparency within religious institutions in Uganda.
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