Siraje K. Lubwama
25 July 2005
Kampala — MUSLIMS under the Society for Preaching Islam and Denunciation of Innovation, Qadianism and Atheism Umma Foundation(SPIDIQA) last week set up a Sharia Court.
The court will handle marriage, divorce and inheritance cases among the Tabliqs.
The court was launched at the foundation's headquarters at Mengo during a general assembly.
SPIDIQA, the mother organisation of the Tabliqs, was founded in Uganda 24 years ago by Sheikh Muhammad Zziwa Kizito.
During the assembly, Amir Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto was elected the leader of the sect.
Commissioning the five-man panel court to be chaired by Sheikh Abdulkarim Abbuya, Sheikh Mubiru said the move was an indication of the objection of the pending Domestic Relations Bill now before Parliament.
"We don't expect any of our members to take marriage, divorce and inheritance cases to other courts outside this Sharia Court. The Quran and the Hadith have all the guidelines on these issues," Mubiru said.
He said similar courts would be launched throughout the country.
Mubiru said for any dissatisfied party, there would be no chance to appeal in any matter because Shiekh Abbuya had relevant qualifications to interpret the Quran and Hadith.
The Uganda Law Reform Commission has already drafted a Sharia Bill to be discussed soon by the executive before being tabled in Parliament.
The Bill, which Daily Monitor saw, proposes that a Sharia Court will be equivalent to that of a chief magistrate's Court and below it will be a magistrate's court.
Magistrates with qualification in Sharia law will be appointed chief magistrates.
In the elections of the Executive, Sheikh Yunus Kamya retained his post as the chairman and is deputy is Sheikh Abdul Nuuru Katumba.
Other members are Eng. Juma Kisaliita, the national secretary general and his deputy is Mr Sulaiman Katta.
The Director of Programmes is Shiekh Zaidi Kaddu while the Treasurer is Mr Ishak Kaggwa.
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