The Mufti of Uganda, Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has said unity among Muslims in the country has significantly improved, reaching 95 percent over his 25 years of leadership.
Speaking during a recent tour of the West Nile Region, Mubaje noted that when he assumed office, his key priorities were to unite Muslims and promote development within the community.
“When I became Mufti, my two main objectives were to unite the Muslim community and to foster development. Today, I can confidently say that about 95 percent of Muslims in Uganda are united,” he said.
He added that the improved unity has also enhanced security within Muslim places of worship.
“In the past, we had security concerns where mosques had to be guarded during Friday prayers. That is no longer the case today. There is peace and stability,” Mubaje explained.
The Mufti further revealed that under his leadership, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is now actively supporting government efforts aimed at socio-economic transformation through initiatives such as Halaal Farmers Centres, which are intended to boost agricultural production and improve household incomes.
“We are now focused on supporting government programmes by mobilising our people to embrace socio-economic transformation for better livelihoods,” he said.
During the tour, the Mufti also emphasised the role of religious leaders in shaping the younger generation.
“Religious leaders must take responsibility to teach young people about their faith and values that promote discipline, morality, and good upbringing,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Williams Anyama, the LC V Chairperson of Moyo District, commended the Mufti’s leadership, noting that unity is key to development.
“We appreciate the leadership of the Mufti. Unity is what drives development, and we are now seeing the benefits within our communities,” Anyama said.
He further appealed to the UMSC to utilise available land for expanded social services.
“We request UMSC to make use of the land at Noor Primary School to establish a secondary school and a health facility to serve the growing population,” he added.
These developments highlight a growing partnership between religious institutions and government in promoting unity and socio-economic progress across Uganda.