Muslims performing Eid-Al-Fitr prayers at Masaka Central Mosque, they heckled the RDC in protests of unreligious speeches

All was well until the master ceremony opened up for speeches from the secular leaders before the congregation could perform the actual Eid prayers to commemorate the end of the holy month of Ramadhan.  

The situation became chaotic when dozens of Muslims rose up and protested the speech by Ssekungo. As soon as Ssekungo started her address in which she mobilized the congregation to embrace government programs that include expansion of oil palm growing to Masaka, a group of enlarged Muslims heckled her, arguing that she was out of place.

The Imam, sheikh Abaasi Nseera pleaded to them not to humiliate the RDC but the congregation spontaneously rose up and demanded they conduct the Eid prayers instead, and soon as they were done, majority stormed out of the mosque.

Hajj Suliaman Kato, one of those who walked away, blamed the local Muslim leaders for failing to be time conscious, arguing that the speeches were eating into the praying time which could not be tolerated. According to Kato, they expected to perform the prayers at exactly 10:00 am, but they had been delayed by the unnecessary speeches.  

Sheikh Nseera, the Imam of Masaka Central mosque in his homily after the Eid prayers castigated the Muslims for what he described as unbecoming conduct, saying it casts the faith in a bad light. He appealed to the Muslim congregation to always be tolerant of situations that seem challenging to them and avoid being ill-judged based on the actions they take under the influence of anger.

The state minister for Microfinance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, who was granted the opportunity to speak after the prayers, also expressed great disappointment with the conduct of the faithfuls, arguing that it frustrates efforts that would benefit the faith.

Kasolo challenged the local Muslim leadership to fully assume their responsibilities of molding members of their mosques towards ensuring that they preside over a responsible congregation they are not ashamed of.  

The act of walking out of leaders is not new to the Muslim faithful in Masaka. During the 2015 Eid-Al-Fitr prayers in July, the Muslim faithful walked out on President Museveni while he visited the Masaka Central mosque, arguing that the gathering had been turned into a political campaign.   

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