An Imam in Uganda has been suspended from his clerical work, after he unknowingly got married to a fellow man.

The Imam identified as Sheikh Mohammed Mutumba, of Kyampisi Masjid Noor mosque in Kayunga District Uganda,was left devastated after discovering he got married to a fellow man in Islamic culture (Nikah), Daily Monitor reports.

The regional Kadhi, Sheikh Abdul Noor Kakande, said the Imam was under investigation over the “unfortunate” incident.

How it happened

A fortnight ago, Sheikh Mutumba unknowingly wedded a fellow man named femininely as Swabullah Nabukeera and spent two weeks with his new “wife” unaware of the latter’s true gender.

The truth came out later after police arrested ‘Nabukeera’ on theft allegations and during a body search by a female police officer before being taken to the cells, it was discovered that the suspect was actually a man. He revealed to police that his real name is Richard Tumushabe.

Mr Amisi Kibunga, the Kyampisi mosque bilal, said he saw Sheikh Mutumba’s ‘wife’ on two occasions at Juma prayers but said it was hard to discover that he was a man.

“He had a sweet soft voice and walked like a woman. She also always dressed in either gomesi or hijab,” Mr Kibunga explained.

“Four days after their wedding, the bridegroom came to me complaining that ‘her’ bride had refused to undress while they slept. Actually I was planning to go to their home to counsel ‘her’ when I heard that the bride had been arrested in connection with theft of a television set and clothes of their neighbour,” Mr Kibunga said.

Sheikh Mohammed Ssemambo, the chairperson of Namagabi Muslim County, expressed shock over the incident.

“I learnt about the incident. As a Muslim leader, he should have followed what the Koran says when one wants to get a spouse,” Sheikh Ssemambo said.

When Daily Monitor visited Sheikh Mutumba’s rented home, neighbours said they had not seen him in four days. Sources said he had been taken by a relative for counselling.

“He is too devastated by the incident and needs counselling,” a source said. “The ‘bride’ did all the house chores such as cooking, washing clothes and others while the husband was away but it was not easy to know he was just masquerading as a woman,” Mr Henry Mukwaya, a neighbour said. “He always wore gomesi or hijab and spoke like a woman but she kept indoors most of the time,” he added.