UGANDA: Muslim activists demand Sharia law

By  SHABIBAH NAKIRIGYA 

Activists from the Muslim Centre for Justice and Law (MCJL) have called on the government to formalise the Qadhs.

The Qadhs are courts headed by Muslim leaders in every district (District Qadhs) and are in charge of settling conflicts among Muslims basing on Islamic law (Sharia).

The cases involve family relations, inheritance and disposal of property, and punishment modes, among others.

Speaking at a workshop on access to justice and law at Bilal Islamic Primary School in Bwaise yesterday, the senior human rights officer and head of training at MCJL, Mr Musa Ntambi, said making the Qadhs courts formal would help the Muslim leaders (Imams and Imrats) to solve problems with ease.

“After making the Qadhs formal, Muslims will know their rights, and access to justice and law in Muslim communities,” Mr Ntambi said.

He added that although they had been making mobilisations in Kampala and Butambala, people’s attitudes are still very poor on the matter.

The human rights advocate of MCJL, Ms Nazifah Namayanja, said to put the laws in practice, the panel of judges should have gender balance because in most cases, women are sidelined.

Ban

Muslims had been using Qadhs courts to solve their problems basing on Sharia, but the government stopped them, saying they were operating informally.

In 2010, Muslims drafted a Bill asking for personal law, which would allow them to operate formally in their Qadhs, but it has not yet been passed.

Ms Lilian Kiwanuka of the Law Reform Commission said the Bill was still being reviewed and would soon be taken to Parliament.

Source: Daily Monitor (14/12/2012): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Muslim-activists-demand-Sharia-law/-/688334/1643408/-/etfo2t/-/index.html