The family of slain Maj Suleiman Kiggundu, is protesting his delayed postmortem at Mulago National Referral hospital mortuary, citing Muslim law.
A same-day burial service is being prepared for Namagoma at 4pm, aimed at meeting the cultural and religious needs of mainly Muslim communities.
Maj Suleiman Kiggundu husband to Maama Fina real names Slyvia Namutebi, who was shot dead Masanafu a Kampala City suburb this morning.
“This is unbearable. My major was a gift from God and now he has left me alone in space, he served his nation well for so many years and died in a trench and should be buried today according to muslim law but the people at Mulago are being slow,” Mama Phina complained.
“We bury our corpse on time in Islam to adhere to the teachings of Allah,” she added.
After the Mulago hospital postmortem, the deceased’s body will be taken to Kibuli mosque.
It is not permissible for Muslims to delay the burial in order for the maximum number of relatives to see the deceased, which is common practice among other communities. Once death is evident, the body should be prepared and taken out of the house for prayer and burial as soon as possible. In this way, contact with the dead body is minimised, which keeps the grief and hurt of seeing the dead down to a minimum. Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said “Hasten the funeral rites” hadeeth Sahih Al-Bukhari vol.2,p.225.
The slain army officer was the leader of the Jamat Dawa Salafiya in Uganda.
Witnesses said two motorcycles followed the major’s vehicle and on reaching Masanafu trading center, the motorcyclists began shooting at around 6am.
“They shot the back left tyre and the car skidded off the road into the trench,” the witness said.
Maj. Kiggundu is the father of Fatuh and Talha Kiggundu, two young stars of Uganda motor sport.
Kiggundu was one of the former Allied Democratic Forces rebels who were granted asylum by the regime to surrender.
ADF is a rebel group opposed to the Ugandan government and is considered a terrorist organisation.
Major Kigunddu a former ADF rebel has been a witness in a murder case of Muslim clerics against Tabliq leader Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga.
By Hakim Mutesasira
