The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has announced plans to institute legal proceedings against the Uganda Bureau of Haj Affairs (UBHA) over disputed funds amounting to Shs 467.5 million, escalating tensions surrounding the management of Haj affairs in the country.
According to UMSC, the decision follows UBHA’s failure to refund money that had been remitted to facilitate the 2025 Haj season and as deposits for the 2026 pilgrimage.
In a letter dated January 22, 2026, the UMSC Directorate of Legal Affairs formally notified the UBHA chairperson, Sheikh Zakaria Kyewalyanga, of its intention to sue. The notice followed an earlier demand letter issued on December 27, 2025, in which UMSC called for the immediate refund of the funds.
UMSC said the move was prompted by concerns over alleged irregularities in the handling of Haj operations.
“Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, constituted a team to thoroughly review the concerns raised and to engage relevant authorities on the matter,” UMSC spokesperson Haj Zziwa Ashiraf said.
Following the review, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially designated UMSC as the sole competent authority to coordinate and manage Haj affairs in Uganda.
“This designation is intended to ensure that preparations for the 2026 Haj season are conducted transparently and under the supervision of UMSC,” Zziwa noted.
However, UMSC claims that some UBHA officials have continued to engage licensed Haj companies and request payments for the current season, a move the council says is unauthorised.
Despite the ongoing dispute, UMSC has already deployed a team to Saudi Arabia to finalise key arrangements for the upcoming pilgrimage.
“We call upon all stakeholders, especially Haj operators and intending pilgrims, to cooperate with the officially designated channels to guarantee transparency and proper management of Haj operations,” Zziwa said.
UMSC maintains that legal action will proceed if the disputed funds are not refunded promptly.