MUSLIM FRATERNITY MOURNS FORMER ANKOLE DISTRICT KAADH SHEIKH KADUUYU
By Ibrahim Zirimu
www.mknewslink.com
In Bushenyi—
Grief has engulfed Muslim fraternity in Ankole region and the whole of Uganda following the death of the former Ankole and Kigezi District Kaadh Sheikh Abdu Noor Kaduuyu.
Sheikh Abdunoor Kaduyu was born in 1930 in Butare village, Kyamuhunga Sub county, Igara County (Bushenyi District). He is a Munyankore by tribe originating from Abahweju clan. His father was late Muwalimu Asinani Lwabugabwa and late Hajati Asiati Beijugumbya.
He served as district Kadhi from 1967 to 2010 when he voluntarily retired and handed over peacefully to the incumbent District Kadhi of Mbarara Muslim District Shk. Ramadhan Khamis.
Sheikh Kaduyu now lives in Kitwe village, Kyeizooba Sub County, Igara County near Rwentuha town (Bushenyi District).
He (Shk. Kaduyu) was the first Munyankole to be taught by the late His Eminence Shk. Swaibu Semakula (Shk Mukulu).
In 1958, Muwalimu Abdunoor Kaduyu was elected by Igara Muslims as the Twale Sheikh of Igara County and confirmed by Prince Badru Kakungulu the then leader of Muslim Community.
In 1963, Muwalimu Kaduyu was ordained a Sheikh by His Eminence the late Shk Swaibu Semakula (Shk Mukulu), thereby becoming the first Munyakore to be ordained Sheikh in Ankole and Kigezi.
In 1964, he was appointed by Prince Badru Kakungulu, as the Deputy District Kadhi of Ankole and Kigezi.
In 1967, Prince Badru Kakungulu elevated him to a substantive District Kadhi of Ankole and Kigezi; thus becoming the first Munyankore Sheikh to become a District Kadhi of Ankole and Kigezi.
In 1972, he was among the prominent Muslims who founded UMSC, as a pioneer member of the first UMSC General Assembly.
He was among the people who made the first UMSC constitution which was promulgated on 20th October 1972. In the same year, Kigezi acquired Muslim District status making Shk. Kaduyu the District Kadhi of Ankole later on Mbarara Muslim District.
Sheikh Abdunoor Kaduyu is blessed with 31 children and as an advocate of education, he practiced what he preaches by educating his children in both secular and Islamic/theological studies. Eighteen of his children have degrees from several universities, six have diplomas from different institutions.
In the course of his service as a District Kadhi (1967-2010), Sheikh Kaduyu was instrumental in addressing the many challenges that were faced by Muslims in Ankole and Kigezi.
Muslims who spoke to www.mknewslink.com described the late Kaduyu as a strong advocate of development, hard worker, education, unity and diversity.
They added that as a Muslim leader, Sheikh Kaduyu was focused; open to new ideas and cooperated with fellow leaders.
The Muslims explain that, the death of Sheikh Kaduyu leaves them with a big space which according them will be difficult to fill.
Sheikh Kaduyu alongside several others has completed translating the Qur’an into Runyakore.
Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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