The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has called on Muslims to be responsible citizens by writing wills and planning for the management of family property, warning that failure to do so has caused endless disputes in households.
The Mufti’s message was delivered on his behalf by Sheikh Imran Abdnoor Ssali, the Secretary for Religious Affairs of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), during memorial prayers for the late Hajjat Hadijah Namutebi, a former resident of Katwe, Kampala, and the wife of long-serving UMSC volunteer Haj Khalid Kasirye.
The prayers, held in Mityana Muslim District, also provided a platform for the Mufti’s spiritual guidance to the congregation.
Sheikh Ssali emphasised the importance of planning for death by clearly outlining family details and property management in a will, noting that societal reluctance to do so has led to conflicts after the demise of family heads.
“You are afraid of making wills, thinking it’s a bad omen, yet death is inevitable. This has caused endless conflicts in families where heads died without leaving wills,” Sheikh Ssali said.
In addition to writing wills, the Mufti urged Muslim parents to actively teach their children Islamic knowledge from home.
He recommended hiring Islamic teachers to ensure children understand Deen (Islam), warning that failure to instill religious values has contributed to societal vices.
“These [vices] have contributed to marriage breakups, poor child upbringing, and have had a negative impact on society in general,” Sheikh Ssali said.
The Mufti also advised married couples to formalize their unions by obtaining registered marriage certificates, cautioning that unregistered marriages complicate the legal recognition of a spouse in the event of death.
“Otherwise, it becomes difficult to prove the legitimacy of such marriages in case a spouse dies,” he added.
Earlier, Sheikh Bashir Luwenda, the host Kadhi of Mityana, led prayers and emphasized the importance of remembering deceased loved ones through supplication, asking Almighty Allah to continue blessing their souls.
The memorial prayers drew several prominent attendees, including Haj Ali Kasirye Mulyanyama, a Kampala-based politician, and other regional Muslim leaders.
The gathering highlighted both the spiritual and practical aspects of preparing for family continuity and social responsibility.
The Mufti’s guidance underscores a broader concern within Uganda’s Muslim community about family disputes arising from inadequate planning and lack of formal documentation for marriages and property. Religious leaders are increasingly advocating for proactive measures such as will writing, religious education for children, and formalizing marriages to strengthen family cohesion and prevent conflicts.
“Being a responsible citizen is not just about religious observance; it is about planning for the future and ensuring your family is protected,” Sheikh Ssali said