Dr. Asgharali Gulamabbas Kassamali Moledina is a  candidate for election as President of THE WORLD FEDERATION of KHOJA SHIA ITHNA -ASHERI MUSLIM COMMUNITIES, for the 2009- 2012 term.

Dr Moledina, is both a qualified medical practitioner and an accomplished entrepreneur in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies engaged in servicing government hospitals, NGOs as well as the private sector in UGANDA, MOZAMBIQUE, ANGOLA and SOUTH AFRICA. Currently he is focusing to expand across the Atlantic and set up base in NEW YORK to promote his medical products.

His long record of service to the community is equally impressive. His well rounded experience emanates from  active participation and constructive engagement in the activities of  the Khoja Shia  Ithhnasheri community around the globe. An able presenter and an effective public speaker, Dr Moledina is a familiar face attending almost all of the World Federation and Africa Federation meetings and conferences as a delegate or a Councillor.  His affable demeanor, kind nature, wise counsel and pragmatic approach are all a hallmark of his characteristic diplomacy – a quality much valued and respected by Community leaders and elders around the world. Many a times, his intervention formally or behind the scenes, solicited or unsolicited, has resulted restoring goodwill and  unity in the community when the community has faced dissension.

He  served as the Vice-Chairman of THE AFRICA FEDERATION from 2004 – 2007. during this tenure he successfully worked to set up the BLESS (BILAL LOAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME) to help all the deserving and needy students of indigenous descent to enable them finish tertiary education.

Ever since settling in Southern Africa and Mozambique, he has been at the forefront of tabligh activities in Southern Africa for almost a decade. Today, the existence of small but dynamic recently converted Shii Community in South Africa, numerous centers and the presence of ulema in Capetown, Durban, Maputo and elsewhere in the region  is a testimony of  the vision and pioneering work by Dr Moledina. His efforts at extending a hand of friendship to all Muslim Communities in Southern Africa has earned him high respect all across South Africa.

As a young man, he was amongst two young doctors specially selected by Marhum Mulla Asghrali M M Jaffer to initiate the Hajj Medical Mission.  But his interest in Community affairs began early in his youth in MOMBASA as a member of  THE ITHNASHERI YOUNG MEN UNION and THE GOLDEN CRESENT GROUP. He was always at the forefront of the debating contests at school and Jamaat level under the patronage of Haji Abbasali Nasser and Haji Mohamedraza Jagani and others.

Upon migrating to NAIROBI he served as NAIROBI JAMAAT COMMITTEE member and helped set up THE JAMAAT CLINIC in NAIROBI.

When he subsequently took the brave step of settling in Kampala, in the post Amin era, he actively involved himself with the Mo’ameneen in KAMPALA  in their efforts at regaining possession of  community properties in the whole of  UGANDA worth over U.S. $ 3million. As part of that initiative, these properties were renovated for use by the reestablished Kampala Jamaat. It is worth noting that the properties seized by IDI AMIN were handed over to THE MUSLIM SUPREME COUNCIL. Dr Moledina emerged a s a key figure in negotiated return of all our properties. Deftly solving the last minute hitch by actually typing the Letter of repossession at the office of the MSC, when the typist was not available. He also served as PRESIDENT OF THE KHOJA SHIA ITHNASHERI JAMAAT OF KAMPALA  ( 1994 – 1996 ) and later as TRUSTEE (  1996 – 2000). Dr Moledina was a  key figure in coordinating  the visit of the IRANIAN PRESIDENT and his team  to UGANDA as well as the visits of the representative of our Mar’aja, His Eminence Ayatoolah Hooseini Al Seestani. He was also instrumental in bringing  the SUPREME COUNCIL MEETING in KAMPALA in 1997 after an absence of many years  During the terms 1994 to 2000, he was nominated as an Executive Councilor of the World Federation by the then President Marhum Mulla Asgher and was subsequently elected as Councilor for the term ( 2000 – 2003 ) dutifully  attending almost all of the WF council meetings. Again he was elected for the term 2003- 2006  and 2006 – 2009 as an EXECURIVE COUNCILLOR of THE WORLD FEDERATION.

He Served as TRUSTEE of AFRICA FEDERATION. ( 1995 – 2001 ) and as COUNCILLOR from NAIROBI and  KAMPALA JAMAATS at AFRICA FEDERTION for many years and has been a regular attendee  of most of the SUPREME COUNCIL MEETINGS since 1977 including the   Regional Council of Indian Ocean Islands on various occasions.

As a regular visitor to Mumbai, he has assisted in the rebuilding of LALJI MUSAFARKHANA of ANJUMANE –FAIZE PANJATANI in Mumbai  a pouplar venue for momineen fom  East Africa and Madagascar  when they  go for medical treatment. Elsewhere in the Sub-Continent, his participation and philanthropy include the building of various religious institutes in AZAD KASHMIR, charity work in PAKISTAN, mosque and centres in Gujarat and Abdhra Predesh.

He has also served as PRESIDENT of MAPUTO JAMAAT, which falls under COMUNIDADE MUCALMANA SIETA SHIA ITNASHERI DE MOÇAMBIQUE.

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Born in Mombasa in 1950, Dr.Moledina acquired his primary education at the Alibhai Panju Jaffery primary School and completed his A leves at the Allidina Visram High School Mombasa.

1968 – 1969  -  STUDIED PREMEDICAL AT ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY.

Stood First in ALL INDIA MEDICAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION at ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERISTY and was offered a place for MEDICINE at GRANT MEDICAL COLLEGE, J.J. HOSPITAL, Mumbai. INDIA.

Served as PRESIDENT Of OUR (Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri) EAST AFRICAN ASSOCIATION in MUMBAI. Participated in various Charity and voluntary activities while studying MEDICINE in INDIA. Kept in close touch with BOMBAY JAMAAT and its leadership, specially the youths.  Served in various refugee camps after the  INDO –PAK WAR of 1971.

Qualified as a MEDICAL DOCTOR in 1975. 

FAMILY:

Married to Batul daughter of Late  Hassanali Kassamali Nasser  and Late Zainab bai  Nasser  Panju of Dar-es-salaam. Blessed with 3 children, ALI, MUBINA and FARZANA  and  8 grandchildren, HANNAH, SARAH, KUMAIL, ZAMAN, SABIRA, ZAYNAB, HADI and ABBAS.

PROFESSIONAL/BUSINESS ACTIVITIES:

Served as Resident Houseman at AGA KHAN HOSPITAL, Mombasa. from 1975 – 1976.  From 1976 to 1979 worked at NAIROBI HOSPITAL and then went into private practice in NAIROBI. Moved to KAMPALA, UGANDA in 1982 to set up a PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS.

In 1999 expanded the PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTION system to MOZAMBIQUE, ANGOLA  and  SOUTH AFRICA. Have business interests in UGANDA, MOZAMBIQUE, ANGOLA, SOUTH AFRICA and ZIMBABWE. Currently expanding into the East coast of UNITED STATES with base in  New York.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE:

1. Has been an active member of THE ROTARY CLUB OF KAMPALA.
2. Have served on the BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the leading MISSION HOSPITAL in KAMPALA, NSAMBYA HOSPITAL. 1992 - 1998
3. Have been involved in KAMPALA for the care of orphans and the needy and organized FREE MEDICAL CAMPS for children.
4. Involved in various Nutritional programmes in MOZAMBIQUE and SOUTH AFRICA for  needy  children.
5. Supporting deserving children, specially the indigenous ones  in pursuit of their studies at  High school level and Universities.