Prince Nakibinge breaks Muslim principles to honour Hussein Kyanjo 

Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the titular head of the Muslim community in Uganda on one of the rarest occasions, set aside the Muslim principle of not keeping dead bodies for long before burial to honour Hussein Kyanjo, the former Makindye West MP.

Nakibinge said he felt it was important to honour Kyanjo for the contribution he has made – not only to the Muslim community but also to the country. He thus called for evening funeral prayers at Kibuli Mosque for Kyanjo who passed away on Saturday morning. 

Speaker after speaker described Kyanjo as one of the rare breed of politicians Uganda has ever produced, not corrupt and a person who kept his word even amidst grave challenges. 

Supreme Mufti Sheikh Shaban Galabuzi hailed Kyanjo as a politician who kept his word. He said even when it was uncomfortable, Kyanjo was never afraid of expressing his opinion on issues that he believed in. Galabuzi said that amidst Kyanjo’s other responsibilities, he always found time to work for the transformation of Islam in Uganda. He called upon other Muslim politicians to emulate him and stand up when need arises to speak or work for Islam. 

During his two terms as MP for Makindye West, especially before he lost his speech, Kyanjo was loved and hated in almost equal measure for suggesting that Buganda should secede from Uganda especially after the controversial 2010 Land Act was tabled in parliament which he interpreted as a ploy to steal Buganda’s land. 

The refusal to allow the Kabaka to visit Bugerere County in Kayunga district also rubbed Kyanjo the wrong way and strengthened his call for Buganda to break away. This and so many Buganda causes that he got involved in, endeared him to the kingdom and its officials. 

In his speech, Prof Twaha Kawaase Kigongo, the first deputy Katikkiro, said in Kyanjo’s death, Buganda has lost a very strong pillar.
Matia Lwanga Bwanika, the Wakiso district chairperson also said that he has never seen a politician so principled, so fearless in defending what he believes in. Bwanika called upon politicians in Buganda to emulate Kyanjo. 

Prof Abas Kiyimba who has known Kyanjo for almost forty years said he will be remembered as a man who worked tirelessly for Islam in Uganda. Kyanjo said this desire to serve Islam pushed him to join politics so that Muslims could also have a voice. 
 
Kyanjo has been battling dystonia, a rare disease that affected his ability to speak. It has severally been suggested that it was caused by poisoning. In 2017 he was also diagnosed with stage four cancer of the colony and was given just six months to live. At 63 years, Kyanjo is survived by two widows and eight children. He was buried on Sunday in Ntuuma village in Bukomansimbi district.