Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, has advised Muslims to marry partners who are also true friends, emphasizing that such relationships foster compassion and create strong, lasting families.
The Mufti shared this advice during memorial prayers for the late Hajjat Aida Namponye, wife of Kampala businessman Erias Kaddu.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, at the family residence in Kitebe Village, Kabowa, Lubaga Division, attracted notable leaders and dignitaries despite heavy afternoon rains.
Among those in attendance were Hon. Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, Minister for Kampala Metropolitan; Sheikh Murshid Muhammad Luwemba, Secretary for Dawah at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC); Sheikh Hamid Sserwadda Busungu, Regional Assistant to the Mufti for Kampala; and Sheikh Jamir Kassim Ntambi, Kadhi of Lubaga Muslim District.
In his remarks, Mufti Mubaje expressed condolences to the bereaved widower, Haj Kaddu, describing him as a close friend.
Drawing from his own life experience, the Mufti shared how he coped with the loss of his first wife by seeking another spouse from the same family to provide care and stability for his children.
He highlighted the wisdom behind polygamy in Islam, explaining how it can offer resilience to families, especially after the loss of a spouse.
“Their relationship was one of deep friendship and mutual respect, a model for others to emulate,” he said, praising the compassion that characterized Haj Kaddu and Hajjat Aida’s marriage.
Minsa Kabanda, a close neighbor of the bereaved family, commended the couple’s exemplary partnership.
Sheikh Jamir Kassim Ntambi also took the opportunity to encourage the Muslim community to attend the upcoming UMSC Anniversary celebrations and shared a Ministry of Health advisory on the Mpox epidemic, urging attendees to adopt handwashing practices to curb the spread of the disease.
Kaddu delivered an emotional tribute, recounting the challenges he and his wife faced during her illness, which required specialized treatment in India, where she eventually passed away.
He spoke fondly of their life together, describing Hajjat Aida as a loving partner who left behind grown children.