Batte Ahmad, Uganda Correspondent
The 32nd Jalsa Salana Uganda took place on 10 to 12 January 2020, at Jamiatul Mubashireen Seeta in Mukono district, 20 kilometres from the National Headquarters in Kampala.
The Jalsa saw an attendance of 12,315 people, including 403 non-Ahmadi guests, of which 185 were dignitaries. It so happened that this year, the rainy season extended its usual period of three months to nine months; sometimes raining twice or thrice a day. Nevertheless, a month before the Jalsa Salana, more than 250 youth stayed permanently at the Jalsa gah and engaged in waqar-e-amal.
Sometimes they had to work during heavy rainfall. The rain was so heavy and continuous that on 9 January, it brought everything to a complete halt and it seemed that the success of the Jalsa was an imminent impossibility.
But by the grace of God and due to continuous prayers by Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa and the supplications of Jamaat members, the rain stopped during the three days of Jalsa Salana. This was astonishing as it had been raining every day for nine months. The heavy rain turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it cemented the soil and dust which usually causes problems and disturbs people during Jalsa.
This year’s Jalsa was also graced by amirs from three African countries i.e. Nur Muhammad bin Saleh Sahib of Ghana, Tahir Chaudhry Sahib of Tanzania and Tariq Mahmood Sahib of Kenya. Therefore each and every session was chaired by an amir.
Under the theme “I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth”, many speeches were delivered by scholars. Among them, topics included “Nearness to Allah” by Muhammad Ali Kaire Sahib, Amir and Missionary in-Charge Uganda and many other spiritually enhancing lectures.
Mr Taligola Emmanuel from Buyende district said:
“It is a big honour to be here with you and I am very happy for being invited … ‘Love for all, hatred for none’ is the reason as to why I am here … I thank the government of Uganda and the President of Uganda to bring about the freedom of worship … Again I want to thank the leadership of Ahmadiyyat, for what they have done for us in Buyende district like teaching our children, providing water and schools without bringing religious difference … I have seen it and we can see it all that Ahmadiyya’s first priorities are the worship of God and the helping of mankind … thank you very much.”
Amir and Missionary-in-Charge Ghana said:
“I am amazed that the Jamaat in Uganda has the courage to organise the Jalsa with a handsome attendance. We least expected so much from the Uganda Jamaat, but luckily we have met a cloud of Ahmadis beyond my expectations and therefore, I have to say that the gratitude is to Almighty Allah and to all of you who have remained steadfast behind your amir and remained steadfast behind Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa. Ahmadi Muslims are special people … we are unique for a unique reason. At our [recent] 88th annual Jalsa Salana in Ghana, many invited guests came, some of them were Christian brethren and others non-Ahmadi Muslim brethren and in a similar manner, we had a number of politicians and traditional leaders and this year the vice president of the republic of Ghana as our special guests … each one of these gentlemen, when given the opportunity to say something, praised the Jamaat’s different moral qualities … I want to advise my brethren of Uganda … You are the ones whom the whole of Uganda is looking forward to, so that peace reaches in every [area] of Uganda. For that purpose if we have not yet prepared ourself, we need to start now…”
The Prime Minister of the republic of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda came as a representative of the president of Uganda HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Therefore, the prime minister’s message was the president’s message. He said:
“We thank the youth of the Ahmadiyya for their efforts towards the establishment of peace and we thank you for living up to your motto, ‘Love for all, hatred for none’…”