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TEARY MOMENT: Amin�s daughter Hajara weeps at
the duwa prayer (Pix: Enock Kakande) |
By Yunusu Abbey and Mariam Nalunkuuma
THOUSANDS of Muslims
yesterday jammed Kibuli Mosque for special prayers (duwa) for former
president Idi Amin who died in a Saudi hospital on August 16.
Prince
Kassim Nakibinge, Sheikh Twaib Mukuye, the deputy Mufti and Dr. Abbas
Kiyimba, a Makerere University lecturer and other speakers, praised Amin.
Mukuye said the UMSC would write to the Saudi Arabian government and
thank King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and the ruling Al-Saud royal family for the
hospitality accorded to Amin since 1979.
Mukuye said Amin had been
enrolled as a member of the ruling Al-Saud family.
Mukuye�s revelation
drew praises of Allah Akbar (God is Great) from the faithful, who
comprised men in tunics and veiled women.
The congregation, including
some MPs and a magistrate, Muhammad Kasakkya from Ntungamo, braved the
scorching sun as they listened to sheikhs praise Amin.
Government
officials stayed away as did the Mufti, Shaban Mubajje. Apart from Sheikh
Abdu Obeid Kamulegeya who sent a message, all former UMSC leaders
attended.
There was an emotion moment when Amin�s two daughters,
Hajara and Aisha, who had sat in the women�s wing were introduced. They
shed tears when Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, the main organiser of the prayers,
asked them to stand up.
The speakers said Amin should be remembered
for the good things he did for Islam and Uganda instead of pointing out
only his failures. Up to 500,000 Ugandans are said to have been killed
during Amin�s regime.
Armed soldiers deployed at the hill for the past
two months, searched vehicles and luggage.
There was slight commotion
when a military helicopter overflew the mosque at about 11:30am while
Muzaata was addressing the worshippers.
Shrewd traders took advantage
of the day and sold black-and-white portraits of Amin at sh100. Yellow
T-shirts with Amin�s portrait sold for sh5,000 each.
Amin�s son,
Jaffar Amin, commonly known as Chombe, who works with DHL, amused the
gathering with his impeccable English.
The towering Jaffar read the
family message and another from his mother Sarah Amin who lives in London.
The family thanked the Muslims for their sympathy.
Amin�s second-born,
Hajji Ali Amin who lives in Njeru, near Jinja, in a deep voice, caused
pro-longed laughter when he said in Luganda, �Empologoma Ezaala Mpologoma
(A lion begets a lion). So we are here.�
Ends
Published on: Monday, 22nd September,
2003 |
