Muslim Leaders Attack Ssebaggala Family Over Delayed Burial

BY OKELLO ALLAN

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| A storm is brewing among the Muslim leaders regarding the delayed burial of forme Kampala Mayor and Senior Presidential Advisor, Alhajji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala.

Ssebagala died a few days ago after admission at the Internation Hospital in Kampala (IHK). According to family sources, the “Hajji Alagidde” former mayor made it clear in his will that he should be buried in the presence of all his children, some of whom are scattered across the globe.

Now the Muslim clerics are saying the will is against the Islamic teachings that demand immediate burial of victims.

Addressing the press at Kibuli Mosque on Wednesday, Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Silimani Kasule Ndirangwa, said Muslims should stop being misled by their wealth, whether rich or poor because they all serve one God (Allah).
Sheikh Ndirangwa condemned the act of keeping the body for long and called for immediate burial arguing that what they are doing is totally unacceptable in the Islamic faith.
“People should seek for advice from the cleric so that they get to know what the religion teaches and how it is done instead of making mistakes which are contrary,” he said.

“We should follow the religion because Hajji Ssebaggala is already dead, we should not wait for the children because we do not know how long it will take them to return and bury their father,’’ he said.
The Deputy Supreme Mufti of the Kibuli faction, Hajji Muhamood Kibaate said taking more than eight days to bury a person contradicts the Muslim teachings.

The clerics noted that burial can only be delayed in circumstances when the victim dies from abroad and there is a need for a postmortem to be carried out by the family members.

A close family source said what delayed the burial was the arrival of some of the late’s children. “Now that Entebbe airport is open and flights have resumed, some family members have begun arriving. burial will be held on Sunday,” said the family source.