The Deputy Registrar of the Civil Division High Court, Simon Kintu Zirintusa, has issued an interim order restraining Prince Edward Kimera and his agents from accessing the Royal Tombs of Ssekabaka Rashid Kalema.
The order results from an application filed by Nalinnya Maria Luwedde against Kimera’s proposal to conduct memorial prayers for Ssekabaka Kalema at the Royal Tombs in Mende, Wakiso District, on Tuesday next week.
In her application, filed through Messrs. Mwasa, Nakitto, and Company Advocates, Luwedde contends that she is the lawful custodian of the Sekabaka Kalema Royal Tombs.
“At all material times, the Plaintiff has been the officially recognized person within the administrative hierarchy of Buganda Kingdom as the custodian of the Sekabaka Kalema tombs at Mende Central, Mende Subcounty, Wakiso District. It is a notorious cultural norm within the Baganda that the custodians of the tombs all over the Buganda region are female Baganda known as ‘Nalinnya,’” the application states.
Luwedde argues that Kimera’s decision to conduct cultural rituals, organize religious functions, and invite several leaders to the tombs without her consent is illegal. “The Ssabalangira reported to the Buganda cultural minister a complaint by the Plaintiff against the Defendant and his family members for burying their family members within the premises of the tombs without the knowledge and consent of the Plaintiff and the Ssabalangira,” the suit reads.
She adds, “The Defendant, in a pretentious act to appease a group of Muslim leadership, has on several occasions attempted to invite a section of leaders to conduct religious prayers for the late Sekabaka Kalema without the knowledge and consent of the Plaintiff. Indeed, the Plaintiff has always objected to these calls whenever they have come to her attention, but the Defendant continues to be adamant and violent.”
Luwedde also claims that Kimera’s decision to invite religious leaders to pray for the Ssekabaka is driven by selfish motives. “The Plaintiff knows that the Defendant’s act of inviting religious leaders to send prayers to the late Sekabaka Kalema is not driven by any goodwill, but is rather intended to seek relevance and endear himself to a faction of the Muslim community in pursuit of self-interest, while further cementing divisions within the Muslim community, thus turning the cultural site into a playing field for religious politics,” the suit adds.
She therefore seeks an order from the High Court ejecting Prince Kimera from the tombs and its premises. She also requests that the court issue a permanent injunction restraining Prince Kimera, his agents, servants, employees, and anyone under him from claiming custodianship of the tombs, accessing the tombs for any reason, or organizing cultural and religious rituals or functions of any nature at the tombs.
Luwedde has also asked the court to order the Defendant to pay the costs of the suit. Last week, Prince Kimera led a team of Buganda Royals to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters at Old Kampala, where they met with Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubaje. They invited the Mufti to the grand Maulid for Ssekabaka Kalema at Mende.