Recruit credible cadres

Recently, President Yoweri Museveni threatened to deal with radio stations that offer platform to some people to criticize or speak ill against government program. A few days later, Museveni was quoted blasting some of his ministers for shying away from using the media allegedly one of the minister said that he was scared of speaking because Theodore Sekikubo, the Rwemiyaga county MP would criticize her.

As a result of the threats from the president several radio stations have suspended their political shows and their presenters probably for fear of facing the state. Others have switched into self- censorship not to anger the powers that be. I wouldn't want to argue about the legality of the threats, I will leave that to the legal minds. My only concern is on whether or not Museveni is well informed about these programs. 

And here is why. During my years as a talk show host on Open Gate FM in Mbale, I faced several challenges especially whenever it came to finding a government representative on the show. I remember during the run up to the referendum to decide on whether or not to open up the political space, Dr James Nsaba Buturo, the then information minister summoned radio station managers to his office. I represented OPG Fm, in my capacity as the acting station manager. In his opening remarks during the meeting Dr Buturo said government was very disturbed by the fact that private radio stations were allocating more time to the opposition, never mind the government owned UBC was a no go area for the opposition.

The minister quoted a section in the referendum law that requires state media to give all political sides time and space. Buturo said going by the act, even private media were expected to follow suit, which didn't go down well with representatives of several stations. However, this was not the interesting part of the discussion. Representatives of nearly all stations informed the minister that it was not their problem, why opposition politicians were dominating the shows. We explained to the minister that we were faced with a very big problem of getting government representatives on the shows. In most cases when government officials are invited they give a host of excuses not to appear, while those willing to appear want the show to be run on their terms. 

They want to decide who appears on the show and even choose the show host. I remember after the cabinet white paper on land was released, government booked airtime on various radio stations including Open Gate FM to popularize its position. I received a call from the Media Center to arrange for the talk show and was told a local minister from the district would appear. We immediately started promoting the show. However, a few minutes to the appointed time the minister was nowhere to be seen. After about 15 minutes into the show the minister was nowhere to be seen and his mobile phone was switched off. I called up the media center and informed them that their representative was not where to be seen.

After about 15 minutes, the minister came running at the station probably after receiving a call from the media center and did the show for the remaining minutes. These are the challenges that radio stations go through. Interestingly, it is these very people who run to the president accusing radio stations of sabotaging government programs.  Some of them fear to be challenged, others are not informed, while others lack the conviction on some of the things they are expected to represent. There are people in government who want to be seen to want to enjoy government privileges but lack conviction on some of its position and fear to annoy their electorate. 

It is also these same officials who mislead the president on the realities on the ground. They only tell the president what they think he needs to hear, not what is affecting the ordinary folk. Issues like lack of medicines and under staffing in government health facilities, bad roads, poor learning conditions, poverty and corruption are a reality. Government needs to address these issues instead of trying to gag the messengers because this will not take away the problems. 

Additionally, the ruling government needs to get back on the drawing board and recruit capable and credible cadres, because it is hard to find the equivalent of the late Victor Bwana, Magode Ikuya, Changa Macho, Charles Rwomushana and Justice George Kanyeihamba. These were men of substance unlike the mediocres we see today.

Celebrating the Life of Muhammad

Rabi-Al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar is very important in the history of Islam. It is the month in which prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was born. It is also the same month in which, Muhammad migrated with his followers from Makah to Madina while fleeing persecution by pagan Arabs. Despite the fact that there is no agreed manner among Muslims scholars on how to celebrate the prophet’s birthday, Muslims engage in different activities to commemorate the day.

Some Muslims hold feasts [Maulid]; others convene public talks to speak about the life of the Prophet while others fast just like the prophet used to do. The birth of Muhammad gave fresh meaning to life in his community and later to the entire world. Pre-Islamic Arabia was buried in sin, key among which was the worship of idols. Pagan Arabs worshiped 360 idol gods, each of the gods with a specific purpose. The Arab community was also characterized by greed, class divisions, slavery, immorality, alcoholism and infanticide involving the girl child among others. Young girls were buried alive. Women were treated as commodities, who were owned and her no right to own property. However, all this changed immediately prophet Muhammad embarked on preaching the message of Islam.

After receiving the revelation prophet Muhammad started out with the immediate members of his family. He preached a very simple message calling people to Worship one true God, justice for all people irrespective of their social standing, freeing of slaves, protecting for the girl child, respect for women and fair rules of trade. His message also guaranteed the rights of women to inherit buy and own property. All one needed to do to embrace Islam was pronounce the Shahad, declaring that there is only one true God, worthy of Worship and Muhammad was his messenger.

It is the simplest of this message which won Muhammad the hearts of many people in his community, despite the persecution he and his followers were subjected too. And contrary to popular claims that Islam was spread by the sword, people were free to accept or reject the message of Muhammad, because there was no compulsion. “History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated,” De Lacy O'Leary in 'Islam at the Crossroads,' London, 1923.

In 1924, Young India published a statement from Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India commenting about Muhammad. “I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life”.

Muslims across the World strive to live each day in accordance with the message and teaching of Prophet Muhammad. “Serious or trivial, his daily behavior has instituted a canon which millions observe this day with conscious memory. No one regarded by any section of the human race as Perfect Man has ever been imitated so minutely. The conduct of the founder of Christianity has not governed the ordinary life of his followers. Moreover, no founder of a religion has left on so solitary an eminence as the Muslim apostle,” writes D. G. Hogarth in 'Arabia'.

9/11 The day i Became Muslim

Robert Salaam

9/11 is a day of reflection for me for several reasons.

On 9/11 I found out that:

1. I really was a Marine

2. I was willing to die for my country

3. Islam is in fact not only a religion of peace, but the truth

Most people have no problem with 1 and 2 when I ordinarily re-tell this story, but number 3 is always met with hostility. Without going into the story again as I have a thousand times, I just want to cover the main points.

1: When I joined the Marine Corps in 1998 it was a different world per se. Most of my peers joined the military as an alternative to staying home or not going to college. Many like me joined the Marine Corps simply to be part of the best miliatary organization on the planet (sorry Army). However, that was it in a nutshell. There were no dreams of war and combat no matter how much warrior training I had. It was good stuff to know, it felt good to know I could if I wanted to, but I was content behind my desk and flying with President Clinton to the Harley David factory in Pennsylvania or to South Beach, Miami. That was the extent of my career until 9/11. That day, I found out that I truly was a Marine, that day the warrior in me came alive and I wanted nothing more than to fight the scum that dared attack the USA the greatest nation on Earth!. That day I found out that even a bunch of spoiled, Presidential, airwingers, were still Marines and we were ready to go and do what Marines do. That day that Eagle, Globe, and Anchor took over and the true warrior that I didn’t even know existed came alive. That day more than any other day, I was a Marine!

2: Given the gravity of the day, I knew something had to be done. I didn’t know what, but I knew it had to be something. I began to think of all the medal of honor winners who gave their lives in the service of others. I never truly understood that, but on 9/11 something came over me. I knew that if fanatical killers were willing to do this, than I had to be equally willing to do whatever it took to defeat them. I didn’t know what to think, but I knew one thing, if I had to die, I wanted it to be in the service of my country. I never felt that way before, on 9/10 I wore a uniform, but it was just a “job” to a degree, but on 9/11 I swore by that uniform and what Marines have lived and died for and was ready to join their ranks if need be. I remember around 10 am before the base phones shut down calling my mother and she answered crying, the most I could muster was “Mom I love you, tell everyone I love them, but now I have to do what I get paid to do” right there out of no where in one line I told my mother that our conversation may have been the last, and in that moment of clarity there was peace. I knew what had to be done and I truly didn’t care about the costs, as long as America won.

3. This has always been the most difficult thing to explain and it still is. On 9/11 we were on “standby” for more than 14hrs. We didn’t see any “action” and we just hurried up and waited, and waited, and waited, and then it was 9/12. As things started to develop and get sorted out after that horrible day, I began to reflect. Mostly about 1 and 2 but then I began to ask myself questions: Who were these people that did this? Why would they do this? Are their beliefs that crazy that they are willing to kill themselves and many others for it? I asked myself these questions over and over. My only solution was research. I wanted to know my enemy so that I may be better prepared to kill them. As a devout Christian, lay leader, bible study leader, etc. I wanted to see this murderous book for myself so that I may be able to inform my friends, group, and congregation. I never met a Muslim in my life all I knew was the church, so I decided to go straight to the horses mouth…the Quran.

As things were eased on the base in the following days, I decided to go to the bookstore and I bought it a Koran. My first one it was in complete English no arabic in sight. So with a scornful look and disdain in my heart I began to read…The very first thing I read was:

The Opening

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:

Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe.

The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

King of the Day of Judgment.

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help

Guide us to the straight way;

The way of those whom you have blessed, not of those who have deserved anger, nor of those who stray.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious and Merciful! What in the world! I thought I’m supposed to be reading about killing Christians in the name of some other god or something. Where’s all the violence and advocation of such against America? This opening, sounded much like my prayers, so I began to read on…

As I read on I learned many things like God is One, fighting is only ordained in self-defense against oppression, respect for others religions and places of worship, Muslims believed in the Prophets of the Bible and in Jesus albeit a little differently, but heh there were Christians that believed the same things about Jesus too! In other words I found none of what I expected, I found no smoking gun, what little so-called violence I did find was nothing more than historical happenings, that didn’t shape the larger context of the books call for patience, prayer, and balance. It didn’t read purely as a historical book although there was history in it, it didn’t read purely as a book of dogma, although there was dogma in it, to me the most remarkable thing to me was that the author seemed to be speaking directly to me and not through 3rd and 4th parties. For every question I asked there was an answer, for every answer given, the text itself asked me a question. The book forced me to think, challenged me, and reasoned with me. This was a book of reason, this was a book of discussion, this book made me stronger in my desire for God. Any book that could do that in of itself, without the aid of a person reading it to me had to have divine Origins!

Of course, this began to baffle me. Emotions began to be confounded at times, I didn’t know what to think, but I knew one think, I believed in this text and I wanted to be part of those who did. Obviously those murders couldn’t have read the same book! We must be reading two different things.

I began to care less and less about the murderers and what they got out of the text and more and more about what I got out of the text. Somehow they got murder and intollerance, I got love for God, man, and peace. No more did I have to believe that those who didn’t believe as I did were bound to hell, now I could believe in the unity of faith, I could believe that all of mankind was destined to God and God loved everyone not just an elect group!

Naturally, all of this shook me at my foundation my core, so the best I could do was share these thoughts with my mentor and pastor, my grandfather. I expected him to chastize me and tell me satan was confusing me, but instead, he said he believes Islam to be on the same path as Judaism and Christianity, he believed that they all have a central Origin and a central destination. He believed that while the family of Abraham (pbuh) didn’t always agree on many points, they are still family nonetheless. At that point, slack jawed, I realized that my new ways weren’t a hinderance or some kind of satanic confusion, but another path and journey God had put me on, He knows what he is up to.

This all happened within weeks of 9/11. Imagine the surprise to all those I knew when I told them I was converting to Islam. Imagine the surprise when I had my dog tags and records changed from “Christian” to “Muslim”. Many didn’t take it well, and many don’t today. But faith is like that. We don’t often have as much control as we would like to believe. If we truly believe then we will be able to carry our cross no matter what.

And talk about a cross to carry! I have been called it all: Naive, Traitor, fake, etc. I have been told that I never was a Christian or good Christian to begin with and that’s how I left so “easily” as if they know! I have been asked how I could change to the enemies religion while my country was under attack, my service has been questioned, my loyalty, etc. etc.

The problem is many can’t or won’t seperate the religion from the people, unless of course the religion is Christianity or Judaism!

Never mind that I served another 3 years honorably in the Marine Corps as a Muslim. Never mind that I have worked for this nations highest office as a Muslim, nevermind that since the Marine Corps I have worked and served in agencies many other Americans only dream about, can only see on the outside, and in many instances don’t even know where they exist! All this as a Muslim.

But I digress…All these years, not much has changed. Many still hate Islam and Muslims, many Muslims still defend their faith and themselves, and many Muslims still commit the actions that help fuel the flames of this hate. I just pray on this day of reflection, that we as Americans, that we as humanity begin to reflect more on our similarities then our differences. I pray that we overcome our prejudices and ignorance and learn to work together. I pray that we come together to destroy radicalism and extremism in all it’s forms. I pray that we realize that it is our differences that not only make God Great, but give us a reason and drive to want to get to know one another.

“O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware.” [Quran 49:13]

Peace for Mankind.: Death of Usamah Bin Laden: Freedom Fighter or Terrorist?

Peace for Mankind.: Death of Usamah Bin Laden: Freedom Fighter or Terrorist?

Peace for Mankind.: Obama kills TRUTH with Osama

Peace for Mankind.: Obama kills TRUTH with Osama

Pastor Mulinde Threatens to Demonstrate Over Kadhi Courts

Pastor Umar Mulinde of the Gospel Life Church International has rubbished the proposed plan to operationalize Kadhi courts in Uganda.

Mulinde is threatening to mobilize Christians to demonstrate in protest against the establishment of Kadhi courts. He says that introducing Kadhi courts in Uganda will be imposing Islam on Christians.

“Christians comprise of 85 percent of the entire population of Uganda, and can not be subjected to Islamic law,” said Mulinde. He was appearing Christian Life Ministry owned Top Television on Sunday April 03.

“As Christians we shall vehemently oppose the idea of introducing Islamic court. Christians will be subjected to harsh punishment once this court comes into effect,” he said.

“You can’t have two separate sets of laws for citizens of the same country in the same constitution,” he charged.

The Ugandan Constitution establishes the Kadhis Courts under Section 129 as one of the subordinate courts of judicature exercising judicial power to deal with matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance of property and guardianship in Muslim families.

According to the constitution, the decision of the Kadhi courts is subject to review by the Uganda High court. Mulinde erroneously attributed the riots between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria to the introduction of Kadhi courts and Islamic law.

However Eliza Griswold, Schwartz Fellow at the New America Foundation and author of The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line between Christianity and Islam" gives a different account of the causes of the clashes.

In an Interview on the National Public Radio in Washington last year, Eliza Griswold attributed the religious clashes to the end of military dictatorship in 1999 and the opening up of democratic space.

“The clashes are a result of the power struggle between Muslims and Christians. The situation is worse in Plateau particularly because both Christian and Muslim groups claim that they came there first,” he added.

Does the Bible Prophesize the Coming of Muhamad?

Debate has been raging on for long amongst Christians and Muslims world over whether or not the Bible, prophesied the advent of Prophet Muhammad [Peace Be upon Him].

Muslims argue that there are several verses in the Bible that prophesize the coming and mission of Prophet Muhammad. Christians vehemently deny the claim and challenge Muslims to bring a bible prophesy, in which Muhammad is mentioned by name.

Unknowing to Christians is that the same challenge applies to Jesus Christ. There is no single verse in the Old Testament prophesies where Jesus is mentioned by name. The popular prophesy used by Christians about the birth of Jesus is found in Isaiah. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. Isaiah 7:14

Note that the name in Isaiah is Emmanuel and not Jesus. Ironically the name Jesus appears in the New Testament that was written years after the ascension of Jesus to heaven. “And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:31.

Mary named her son Jesus, when he was eight days old. “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb”. [Luke 2:21].

Christians have no problem with accepting the Old Testament prophesies about Jesus even if we can’t find any prophesy by that name “Jesus”. They will give more than 20 prophesies that allegedly befit Jesus but not one of them mentions his name.

They on other hand demand that Muslims bring prophesies in the Bible, where Muhammad is mentioned by name [sic] for him to be acceptable. It is like the Christians want to bake and have their cake at the same time.

Muslim researchers on comparative religion now agree that Muhammad was mentioned in the bible by name in the original Hebrew Scriptures but it was translated just like the Christians have done with several other names in the bible.

However, that is not our argument to night. Our goal is to examine whether indeed there are no bible prophesy that befit Muhammad in the bible. Our first call is Deuteronomy 33:2 “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them”.

This is a chronological succession of prophets which is narrated through reference to location. These prophesy is reported at the end of Deuteronomy in association with the story of the death of Prophet Moses (pbuh). Sinai is a reference to Moses (pbuh). It is an obvious reference to Mount Sinai where Moses (pbuh) received his revelation (Exodus 19:20).

Seir is a reference to Jesus (pbuh). It is usually associated with the chain of mountains West and South of the Dead Sea extending through Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus (pbuh). It was later extended to include the mountains on the East side as well (Dictionary of the Bible, John L. McKenzie, S.J., p. 783). However, Seir is also identified with the Northern border of the tribal territory of Judah and usually with Saris near Kesla (Chesalon), barely nine miles West of these two cities (The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, by Allen C. Myers, pp. 921-922, and The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, V4, p. 262) Prophet Moses (pbuh) never in his lifetime entered Palestine, and thus, this could not be a reference to him.

Paran is a reference to the city of Makkah in the Arabian Peninsula. The wilderness of Paran is where Abraham's wife Hagar and his eldest son Ishmael settled (Genesis 21:21) in the Arabian Desert, specifically, Makkah. Makkah is, of course, the capital of Islam in Arabia and the birthplace of Mohammed (pbuh). Mount Paran is the chain of mountains in that same region which the Arabs call the "Sarawat Mountains". Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation in the cave of "Hira'a" located in these mountains. Jesus never in his life traveled to Paran. Mohammed, however, was born there.

No prophet of the Bible ever came from the Arabian city of Paran (Makkah). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the only prophet of God who has ever fulfilled this prophesy.

Prophet Isaiah didn’t also miss out on this important messenger of God. Isaiah 21:13 “The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim”.

In another verse he says that “And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned”. Isaiah 29:12

For all the people familiar with the history of Prophet Muhammad none of them can dispute the fact he was illiterate. No other prophet of God went through this experience apart from Muhammad.

In chapter 96 of the Koran Surat Al-`Alaq, which was the first revelation of Koran, we are told how the messenger was asked to read by angel Gabriel and his answer was I can not read. Quran 96:1 “Recite in the name of your Lord who created.”

There are several other prophesies in the bible, that is closely examined to point to none other prophet Muhammad.

Kenya threatens to cut off fuel supplies to Bukwo district

AHMED WETAKA

Mbale-Kenyan authorities in the boarder town of Suam are reportedly threatening not to sell fuel to Ugandan cars from Bukwo district unless Uganda returns fifty six cows raided from the Kenyan government owned Agricultural Development Center [ADC] on the 21 May.

Ugandan raiders crossed into Kenya in response to an earlier raid by Kenyan Pokots on May 20 in which 189 cows were taken. Bukwo district Information Officer Joshua Khatiya says the Kenyan authorities in Suam want the cows returned or else the people in Bukwo find alternative sources of fuel for their cars and other needs.

“They have made it clear that unless we return their cows, they will not sell us fuel,” he said. The cows in question were impounded by Uganda People’s Defense Forces and are now held at Riwa army barracks. Kenyan authorities issued the threats to stop selling fuel to Ugandans after the leaders in Bukwo demanded that the Kenyan authorities release the Ugandan cows in their custody in exchange for theirs. “We had asked them to release the cows that were raided from Uganda and were impounded in Kenya, but the Kenyans insist they want their cows before we talk of anything else,” he said.

According to Khatiya some of the Bukwo district cars that had crossed into Kenya for fueling on Friday were sent back without fuel. Khatiya says if the Kenyan authorities stick to their guns to deny them fuel the district will fall in crisis, since there is no alternative source of fuel for the entire population in Bukwo district. “All our cars both government and private their fuel from Kenya if the threat is fully implemented we shall in a very big crisis,” Mr Khatiya said. He said the Kenyan authorities are also accusing UPDF of uprooting boarder pillars and plundering their natural resources.

However while speaking to Mbalefast the UPDF third division spokesman Captain Henry Obbo said it appears the political leadership in Bukwo and their counterparts in Kenya have scores to settle. “As far as the UPDF is concerned we have no problem with the Kenyan authorities and it is not our responsibility to hand over recovered cows,” he said.