Joseph Isangura
The High Court of Tanzania has delivered a decisive ruling in a long-running dispute over control of a mosque property in Dar es Salaam, affirming that the Registered Trustees of National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) are the lawful owners and administrators of the Bangulo Mosque area near the Pugu Bus Terminal.
In a judgment viewed as significant for religious property governance in Tanzania, the Land Division of the High Court ruled that former imam and madrasa teacher Kassim Juma had no legal claim over the mosque land and was unlawfully occupying the premises after the termination of his employment contract in 2021.
The ruling, issued by Justice Emmanuel Kawishe on May 6, 2026, declared Mr Juma a trespasser and ordered recognition of BAKWATA’s authority over the religious property, which had become the center of an escalating dispute affecting worship activities within the Bangulo Muslim community.
According to court records, the case was brought before the court by the Registered Trustees of BAKWATA in Ilala District after allegations that Mr Juma had unlawfully taken control of the mosque compound and attempted to assert ownership rights over the land.
The court heard that the disputed property was donated in 2016 by Ramadhani Jalaka through waqf, an Islamic charitable endowment system, specifically for the construction and operation of a mosque serving Muslims in the Bangulo area of Dar es Salaam.
BAKWATA told the court that Mr Juma had initially entered the property strictly as an employee hired to serve as imam and religious teacher. However, after his employment relationship ended in 2021, he allegedly remained on the premises and continued exercising control over the mosque area despite lacking legal ownership rights.
In its findings, the court emphasized that property donated under waqf arrangements for religious purposes remains under institutional administration and cannot be claimed personally by individuals serving within the institution.
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Justice Kawishe ruled that Mr Juma’s presence on the land was tied solely to his employment responsibilities and not to ownership, making his continued occupation unlawful after the contract expired.
The dispute had reportedly caused tensions among worshippers and disrupted religious activities at the mosque, with competing claims over management and authority creating uncertainty within the local Muslim community.
Legal observers say the judgment could set an important precedent for future disputes involving religious institutions, waqf property, and management authority in Tanzania, where faith-based organizations oversee significant community assets including mosques, schools, and charitable centers.
The ruling also reinforces the legal standing of BAKWATA, Tanzania’s principal Muslim council, in supervising religious properties and Islamic institutions across the country.
The judgment is now publicly accessible through Tanzania’s Judiciary electronic case management system, where the detailed court findings and orders have been published.
