Mubaje reflects on turbulent periods, milestones in UMSC's history
Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, has reflected on the history of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), highlighting the golden period from 1972 to 1979, followed by a turbulent phase of division from 1979 to 2000 that led to the collapse of UMSC's structures.
He made these remarks while inaugurating a National Organising Committee for a grand thanksgiving ceremony to mark 52 years since the establishment of UMSC.
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The committee was launched at UMSC headquarters in Old Kampala on Thursday.
The UMSC serves as the umbrella organization for all Muslims adhering to Alhalal Sunnah Wajama in Uganda.
Sheikh Mubaje recounted how UMSC was left in disarray during the turbulent years, with staff going unpaid for nearly four years, and the Old Kampala headquarters falling into neglect.
"The premises were reduced to a neglected dumping site," Mubaje noted, emphasizing the dire state of affairs before a unifying election was held in December 2000.
“We spent three days, from December 10th to 12th, in the General Assembly for the elections. It was a challenging process, but by around 3 a.m., I was unanimously elected to lead,” he recalled.
Mubaje acknowledged that the following decade was fraught with disputes that hindered Muslim activities.
However, he expressed pride in the achievements, particularly the construction of the National Mosque and UMSC headquarters, made possible with support from President Museveni and the late President Muammar Gaddafi.
He also highlighted the UMSC's success in securing independent sources of income, reducing reliance on donor funding.
He concluded by outlining upcoming events, including the Islamic Scholars Conference, which will host over 40 Muftis from the Forum for Muslim Councils (AFMC) and beyond, as well as a General Assembly meeting.
The year will culminate in a Thanksgiving function on December 12, 2024, for which President Yoweri Museveni has pledged financial support.
