Transformative legacy of His Eminence Dr Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje

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OPINION

By Immam Shaffi Kagiiko

Dr Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, is a religious leader in Uganda. He currently heads East African Muslim Councils, is Chair of the Forum for African Muslim Councils (FAMC), Co-Chair of the Association of African Religious Leaders (AARL) and Africa’s representative to the New York based “Religions for Peace”, where he features prominently.

His leadership at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is now for a legitimate period of a 5-year transition, during which the Council will be setting itself for another Mufti. 

The media has been awash with criticisms of the leadership of His Eminence Dr Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, the current Mufti of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC).

The subject has come under scrutiny, with critics launching baseless attacks that seek to tarnish his reputation and the significant progress made over the years under his guidance.

Dr Sheikh Mubaje has been a prominent transformative figure in Uganda, serving as the Mufti of Uganda since his election in 2001. His achievements and contributions to the Muslim community and the broader Ugandan society are several. His advent has challenged and changed the status quo of nepotism.

One of the greatest leadership qualities exhibited by Sheikh Mubaje for the last 25 years at the helm of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has been patience – tolerance – and perseverance, navigating through an ultra-intolerant community on the verge of theological disorientation and moral degeneration. 

Sheikh Mubaje has focused on uniting the previously fragmented Muslim community in Uganda, the main factor behind the initiation and establishment of UMSC as a mother body that oversees and guides all Muslim affairs, institutions and organisations.

In his quest for the craved unity he has achieved a remarkable transformation that more than previously, prioritises inclusivity and representation, than naive cronyism and favouritism.    

Under his tenure, UMSC has significantly improved its constitution to ensure that leadership positions require not just seniority and personal connections but, most importantly, Islamic and Secular qualifications to merit.

For the first time we are witnessing public advertisements for qualified candidates to apply and interface with the appointments committee for available placements in the very comprehensive structural management and administration of UMSC. 

This pivotal structural change has empowered the community by making leadership more accountable and more representative of the diverse voices within the entire Muslim populace. 

Central to Sheikh Mubaje’s vision has been the establishment of two significant National Councils within the UMSC – one for Muslim Women and another for Muslim Youth. These Councils became instrumental in harnessing the potentials of these vital segments of the community, providing them with platforms to voice their concerns and contribute meaningfully to the integrity and progress of the Muslim community as a whole.

Sheikh Mubaje, has played a vital role in unifying various Muslim factions in Uganda, fostered a spirit of cooperation and dialogue among different Islamic sects. Thus, the constructive dialogue with Tabliqs, NAM leaders, Bukoto Nateete, Mugeny’asooka in Kawempe and only recent cessation by the insubordinate Kibuli based faction and the self-styled Gangu dissidents. 

Public speaking and influence: As a respected figure, Dr Sheikh Mubaje has often been invited to speak at national and international forums, where he represents the Muslim community interests and discusses various issues including peace, tolerance, education and social justice.

Promotion of Islamic Values: this is the essence of a Muslim leader as the Chief Imam of a nation like Uganda. Through various programmes and sermons, over the years. Sheikh Mubaje has promoted the understanding of Islamic values and principles, aiming to enhance the moral fabric of the society.  

UMSC, the Icon of International Benchmarks: UMSC’s very revolutionary administrative structure is now a point of reference for other national Muslim Councils in Africa. Many would like to have it implemented in their home leaderships, the most recent one being the Muslim Councils of Burundi and South Sudan.

This structure blossoms from the over 15,000 Mosques, 788 Counties, 82 Districts, 10 Regions and Management at the Headquarters. This in addition to an Executive Committee and General Assembly under the National Chairman, the Shura Council and College of Eminent (knowledgeable) Sheikh.       

Education: His leadership has emphasised and promoted the importance of secular and Islamic Religious education within the Muslim community, advocating for establishment and support of Islamic schools and various educational programmes, including the institution of Islamic Call University College (ICUC) and the continued provision of guidance to the Council of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU).

Additionally, an entire National Examination Board of Islamic study examinations is in place, dispensing national results that bring together many Muslim schools annually.

Dr Mubaje’s efforts have helped improve access to education for many Muslim children and scholars.

Interfaith Dialogue: having been not only a founding member and longest serving head of the Interreligious Council of Uganda, Sheikh Mubaje has actively engaged in interfaith initiatives, promoting understanding and cooperation between Islam and other religions in Uganda.

Fundamentally, there is no doubt that he has contributed much to saving Ugandans from the scourge of clashing religious civilizations to which the country was a potential subject shortly before his advent to the help of UMSC. His emphasis on tolerance has been crucial in fostering peaceful coexistence in a diverse society.

Socioeconomic Infrastructures and Income Generation: Under the establishment of the Properties (Awqaf) Department and a strengthened Legal Office, in the last three years, UMSC has evidenced an unprecedented land reclamation and property recovery with multiple land titles, some surrendered voluntarily from across the country where the institution owns much. 

In Mufti Mubaje’s term, UMSC and the country at large have seen the construction of one of Africa’s largest and most magnificent Mosques, UMSC Headquarters, the most visited facility by tourists in Kampala today.

Although this physical achievement is shared by the Government, it took Sheikh Mubaje’s precious initiative to meet and ask President Museveni for a letter to his great brother, Muamar Gaddafi (may Allah forgive him), who agreed to construct this nationally famous testimonial.

Before the construction of the national Mosque and after, Sheikh Mubaje’s leadership has overseen and witnessed a multiplicity of hitherto unprecedented Mosque numbers that shine along Uganda’s high ways and in the interior. Thus, today UMSC boasts 15,340 registered Mosques, compared to the 6,000 by the advent of Mzee Mubaje. This does not include those not registered. 

In the 10 Muslim Regions, Sheikh Mubaje has precipitated the foundation stones for the construction of Muslim Regional Headquarters, with construction of the ones in Tooro-Bunyoro, Eastern Region and Busoga already started. Unprecedented in the history of UMSC.  

This tenure has, under the auspices of UMSC, not only seen the development of social infrastructures like schools and health centres, but also communications networks as five radio stations and two televisions, in addition to the physical structural developments being witnessed at UMSC Headquarters in Old Kampala for both business and educational purposes.

Further, the institution is currently constructing storied “Flats” in Najjanankuumbi to add to the recently acquired Buildings in Kyanja and Bunnamwaaya, from where incomes are now generated to sustain an increasingly stretching workforce of the council. And sooner rather than later, UMSC is erecting other physical structures on its land in Komamboga.        

Social welfare programmes: Under Sheikh Mubaje’s guidance, various social welfare programmes targeting poverty alleviation, healthcare and support for the needy and refugees have been initiated. The UMSC Old Kampala Hospital has significantly improved its services to the public. These programmes have provided essential services to many in the country.

Self-sufficiency projects for poverty alleviation: In 2024, the Muslim community of Uganda saw Mufti Mubaje’s unique approach to poverty. From UMSC’s own resource savings, the procurement and distribution of Coffee and Cocoa Seedlings, Banana Suckers, Sheep and Goats, was enacted successfully where many beneficiaries appreciated their share and the project is ongoing. UMSC awaits other entities to help complement this project into fruition and socioeconomic transformation.

In a related socioeconomic advancement, the UMSC is registering three fundamental institutions:

• Establishment of a UMSC Nongovernmental Organization to facilitate the operationalisation of the institution’s humanitarian affairs and collaborations as an independent entity.
• Establishment of a National Advisory Board for Islamic Banking System and Sharia (NABISS) to position UMSC as an international point of reference for all matters of Islamic Banking Systems.
• A mother national Muslim SACCO to help address and improve the financial health of UMSC and the Muslim community into the work ethic and socioeconomic transformation: a step to Islamic Banking.

Two Saccos, one for Muslim Youth Councils and another for Muslim Women Councils have been registered and established, with the latter given a presidential pledge of sh2b by President Museveni to be used to operationalise all Muslim Women Councils and micro saccos across the country.   

It should be remembered that under Sheikh Mubaje, UMSC was quite instrumental in advocacy efforts to legalise Islamic Banking System in Uganda to the extent that he himself made a maiden appearance in the Parliament of Uganda, where together with the National Chairman of UMSC, they featured prominently, appreciated by the Speaker and MPs therein.

For the first time, such prominence and intellectual prowess by a national representative of Muslims in Uganda, a Mufti at that was like never before. And the legalization of Islamic Banking was achieved fondly.

Development of Namugongo Martyrs Historical Site: Having secured a presidential order for the Ministry of Lands to compensate the squatters on Muslim land in Namugongo, a comprehensive architectural plan is completed to have the site developed into an historical social and business centre with another magnificent Mosque to be able to commemorate Muslim martyrs and promote religious tourism in Uganda.    

Halal Ecosystem: Consistent with national business laws of Uganda, a new capacity building dispensation in the Halal industry has been forged into action that will change standards in trade and industry to promote investment and international trade in Uganda. The system has seen responsibility apportionments and formations of Uganda Halal Bureau taking the Certification role, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) given an inspection laboratory being constructed to authenticate products and UMSC to undertake Accreditation for all wishing to manage and administer Halal issues. This is set to take investment to another level, opening trade gates of the hitherto limited market of Uganda’s exports in Middle East and beyond.   

Advocacy and Rights: Dr Mubaje has been an advocate for the rights of Muslims in Uganda, working to ensure that the community’s needs and concerns are addressed at various levels of government and society.

One should recall his bold stand against the issues of LGBTQ in Uganda and his ceaseless appeal to the international community to respect justice and the rights of Palestinians. 

Moreover, under Mufti Mubaje, two major Islamic dockets of advocacy were achieved: 1. Matters of the Domestic Relations Bill 2. Kadhi Courts in the National Constitution of Uganda. Centrally fundamental to the Islamic creed.

Crisis Management: Sheikh Mubaje has demonstrated unique leadership skills in times of crisis, including during periods of religious tension, where he has called for calm and dialogue, seeking peaceful resolutions to conflict. 

In the same spirit, he has managed well the relationship between Muslims and the central government, which would have otherwise been antagonistic, looking at sections of the not so conciliatory members of the Muslim faith in Uganda. This is critical for maintaining national peace to date. Only Allah knows what the situation might be today with certain extremist tendencies that have started to undermine both Muslim integrity and the state of Uganda!  

These achievements reflect Sheikh Mubaje’s unprecedented transformative commitment to serving not only the Muslim community but also the broader Ugandan society, thus contributing to peace, education and social development. 

These achievement enumerations, notwithstanding, have not been without the challenges of mismanagement, corruption and office abuse by certain sections of the massive national Muslim leadership in Uganda. There still remain dissenting voices and Court litigations focusing on works.

In many sections of the country, many people still illegally hold tight to misuse of UMSC lands and properties for personal gain. 

Sad to note that several unqualified individuals devoid of demonstrable capabilities have resorted to unprecedented criticisms and throwing of insults to the detriment of the person of Sheikh Mubaje and the UMSC as a national corporate religious institution! 

Certainly, there remains an additional challenge of those clutching to other auxiliary institutions or NGOs of UMSC, but have since adamantly refused to surrender them over to the relevant departments of the Council. It is these same people who never feel happy on hearing that UMSC is metamorphosing into a more organised entity, as in constitutionalism. Thus, many women and youth institutions, schools, properties, radios, and other facilities are yet to be reclaimed to serve the rightful people in rightful orders. 

Other factors are exogenous, where we have faced a rough terrain with foreign embassies. For instance, when Muamar Gadaffi wanted to contribute additional amenities to the Islamic University in Uganda, it could not please the Saudis. 

But when he successfully took on the construction of the UMSC Mosque Headquarters, Dr Mubaje’s leadership became hated by the Saudis for over two decades. It has since been too hard for Mzee Mubaje to reconcile with the Saudi embassy, a condition so detrimental to Uganda’s sovereignty. The consequence is a current deep diplomatic row that has seen conflictual exchanges between the two entities. 

Sadly, so, these misunderstandings are being fanned by certain figures, some of whom are abusing government offices to cause mayhem. They have kept in the captivity of negativity, for in another dimension of diplomacy, these characters have not distinguished Uganda’s embassies in the Muslim Arab world either.

While the government of Uganda would expect them to influence initiatives of business engagements for the benefit of the home country, they have instead carried with themselves the acrimonious issues of Kibuli-based factions and Old Kampala mainstream leadership deep into our embassies, much to the detriment of home survival. And for generations, we have not benefited well from this lucrative part of the world, where even great Western powers are seen to benefit logistically. 

Dr Mubaje wishes to dialogue with the government on the choice of diplomats. Recently, he was prompted to rebuke the trouble causers at a public forum that “Uganda’s Muslim affairs are not a subject of any country’s tutelage – but are for Ugandans and only Ugandans” – sending a message that non-interference into internal affairs remains a principle in international relations.

In the final analysis, with the transition already proclaimed, Sheikh Mubaje’s efforts are now more concentrated in concluding a foundation for future successive leaders who must not go beyond a 10 years’ straight constitutional term.

The writer is a Lecturer and Head of Social Services Department of UMSC. Email: immam.shaffi@umsc.or.ug or miisauganda@gmail.com  WhatsApp: 256 772 462 283