Tensions have erupted between prominent Muslim entrepreneur Al Hajj Hassan Basajjabalaba and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) after top UMSC clerics openly attacked him during Friday prayers at the Gaddafi National Mosque in Old Kampala.
In a controversial and unexpected move, UMSC leaders, during the August 8th Juma prayers, warned members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Entrepreneurs League not to vote for Basajjabalaba in the upcoming Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections.
They told worshippers that Basajjabalaba was “untrustworthy in both religion and business” an unusual attempt to influence politics from the pulpit.
But Basajjabalaba, a successful businessman, education investor, and founder of Kampala International University, hit back strongly.
According to a source close to Basajjabalaba, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity, the businessman was shocked by the mosque campaign and sees it as a personal and political attack driven by jealousy and fear.
“He [Basajjabalaba] could not believe that a mosque, which should be a neutral place of worship, was turned into a stage to campaign against him,” he feels betrayed by the same religious leaders he once supported,” the source said.
While speaking to NRM members at his Western Campus in Ishaka, Bushenyi District, over the weekend, Basajjabalaba directly accused UMSC leaders of hypocrisy and dragging mosques into dirty politics.
“It is shameful and unacceptable for religious leaders to use the mosque Allah’s house to preach hatred against one individual,” i ask, who gave UMSC the authority to campaign or de-campaign candidates in NRM politics? What moral right do they have?” Basajjabalaba said.
Basajjabalaba referred to a recent warning by the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, who had told UMSC leaders to stay away from partisan politics and to avoid using Islamic platforms for political gain.
“It’s shocking that the same people, in the same mosque, are now ignoring their own guidance by turning Juma prayers into a political rally against me,” he said.
This is a dangerous path. Mosques must remain neutral and not be turned into arenas for political witch-hunts.
The source close to Basajjabalaba also revealed that the businessman is deeply hurt by the silence of key Muslim figures who know the truth but are afraid to speak out.
“He invested a lot in supporting UMSC’s growth, both financially and morally. Today, those same people are stabbing him in the back,” the source said.
Basajjabalaba also brought up long-standing issues in the Muslim community, accusing UMSC of causing lasting damage by selling off valuable Muslim properties.
“These same leaders who are attacking me from the pulpit are the ones who sold off valuable Muslim properties. Their actions caused irreparable damage to the community damage still fresh in people’s hearts,” instead of repenting and repairing that damage, they are now busy fighting innocent people,” Basajjabalaba added.
He went further, expressing deep frustration about being publicly judged in both religion and business:
“Imagine a leader standing in a mosque, telling the congregation not to trust me in religion or business. Who are you to judge my faith and business integrity?” he asked.
Do you know how much I personally invested in the growth of UMSC? Let these so-called leaders first fix their own failures before coming after me.
Despite the public attacks, Basajjabalaba remains determined. He called on NRM delegates to ignore religious propaganda and instead focus on choosing strong, experienced leaders for the Entrepreneurs League.
“UMSC has too many internal problems corruption, mismanagement, and betrayal of the Muslim cause. Instead of fixing their mess, they waste time preaching against me,” he said.
My message to supporters is simple: ignore them and let’s focus on building our country through business and innovation.
He confirmed that he would continue with his bid for the NRM CEC position and described UMSC’s campaign against him as “desperate and irrelevant.”
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