Healing Uganda’s Muslim divide through unity and community dialogue

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OPINION

By Immam Shaffi Kagiiko

In the heart of Uganda’s vibrant religious tapestry, the Muslim community stands at a crossroads. For decades, internal divisions, most notably between the Kibuli-based faction and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), have stifled progress, eroded institutions and left ordinary Muslims grappling with poverty, marginalisation and lost opportunity.

This is not just a political or administrative crisis. It is a spiritual contradiction. How can a community united by the Holy Qur’an and the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) remain so bitterly divided?

The late President Idi Amin Dada made a significant contribution to the unity of Uganda’s Muslim community by spearheading the establishment of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) in 1972. Recognising the fragmentation and lack of centralised leadership among Muslims at the time, Amin championed the creation of a national institution that would bring together all Muslim factions under one administrative and spiritual umbrella. His initiative aimed to streamline religious governance, promote development and ensure that Muslims had a unified voice in national affairs.

The UMSC became a cornerstone for organising Islamic education, managing mosques and representing Muslims in interfaith and governmental engagements. Despite the controversies surrounding his regime, this move remains a pivotal moment in the history of Islam in Uganda, an effort to consolidate Muslim identity and foster communal harmony across tribal and regional lines.

Since 1986, the government of Uganda has made many efforts to advance Muslim integration, including the magnanimous contribution of the Land Title for National Headquarters at Old Kampala and the recommendation to Brother Muamar Gadaffi to have the present magnificent national Mosque construction. The Headquarters is a national Muslim icon for the necessary unity to reclaim Muslim unity and respect as a community.

Since his appointment in 2001, His Eminence Dr Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje has remained steadfast in his mission to unify Uganda’s Muslim community. Through tireless dedication and spiritual conviction, he shepherded the drafting and adoption of a landmark constitution; an enduring framework that now shapes the legal, administrative, and communal life of Muslims across the nation. His leadership is not merely institutional; it is a testament to faith in action, echoing the timeless call for unity, compassion, and collective purpose.

Recently, at the meeting of the Rotary Club of Sunrise Kampala, one member suggested a friendly football match between the Kibuli-based Muslim orientalists and the national leadership of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, if that is what it takes to civilise and unite our community.

To inspire unity among Muslims in Uganda, the Holy Qur’an and Hadith offer clear guidance: Muslims are one brotherhood and must not be divided.

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves; and remember Allah’s favour upon you, when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together, so that you became brothers by His grace…” (Qur’an 3:103) This calls for collective adherence to divine guidance and warns against division. It’s a timeless reminder that unity is a divine blessing and a duty.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The believers, in their mutual love, mercy and compassion, are like one body. If one part of the body feels pain, the whole body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.” (Sahih Muslim) This Hadith beautifully illustrates the interconnectedness of the Ummah. When one Muslim suffers, whether in Kibuli or Old Kampala, all should feel the pain and work toward healing.

Why These Teachings Matter in Uganda? The divisions between factions like Kibuli and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council have weakened the community’s institutions and social progress. The teachings urge reconciliation, collective strength and shared purpose. They are not just spiritual ideals, they are practical blueprints for rebuilding trust, unity and prosperity.

Let these verses be recited in mosques, taught in schools and echoed in speeches. Let them guide the community toward a future where Muslims in Uganda stand as one, strong, respected and united.

A Legacy of Division, A Future at Risk: The schism between Kibuli and Old Kampala has become more than a disagreement; it’s a chronic wound. Tribal undertones, leadership disputes and external interference have turned mosques into battlegrounds and schools into shadows of their potential. Institutions once built to uplift the Ummah, Islamic schools, hospitals and community centres now suffer from neglect and decay. The Muslim youth who should be the torchbearers of faith and progress are instead trapped in cycles of joblessness and despair.

The deepening divisions within Uganda’s Muslim community have been exacerbated by a vocal minority of Kampala-based elitist critics whose self-serving agendas undermine efforts toward unity. Particularly troubling is the influence of certain self-proclaimed scholars; individuals who, despite their educational credentials, lack the depth and grounding required to guide others responsibly.

Their misinterpretations and misguided fatwas have sown confusion, especially among the youth, leaving many vulnerable to radical ideologies and subversive activities. In a time when spiritual clarity and communal harmony are most needed, the absence of authentic, informed leadership poses a grave challenge to the integrity and future of Uganda’s Muslim ummah.

A Path Forward: The New UMSC Constitution: There is hope. The recently amended UMSC constitution offers a robust, inclusive and transparent administrative framework. It lays out clear structures for leadership, accountability and community development. It may not be perfect, but it is a start and a promising trajectory to the future.

Let all factions rally behind this document. Let it be the common ground upon which unity is rebuilt. Let it be the tool through which tribalism is dismantled and meritocracy restored.

Foreign Interference: A Dangerous Game: The recent arrival of the new Saudi Ambassador has stirred concern within Uganda’s Muslim community. Rather than serving as a bridge for unity, his perceived alignment with divisive local factions risks exacerbating existing tensions. In matters of faith and communal leadership, Uganda’s Muslim affairs must be stewarded by Ugandan Muslims; guided by local wisdom, context and sovereignty, not by foreign actors whose intentions remain opaque.

It is a troubling paradox for a sovereign nation: that a foreign envoy, despite formal objections from affected institutions, can freely engage in actions that unsettle local harmony. Such dynamics evoke uncomfortable echoes of colonial interference, where external influence undermined indigenous agency and spiritual cohesion.

I call upon the government to safeguard religious harmony and protect the sovereignty of Uganda’s Islamic institutions. Silence in the face of destabilisation is complicity.

A Structured Model for Healing: To truly address the historical wounds, let us propose a five-point model:

• National Muslim Dialogue Conference: Bring all factions to the table; elders, youth, scholars and leaders, for a truth-and-reconciliation-style summit. UMSC management does this by inviting digressing City Sheikhs for dialogues on fundamental theological issues and permitting Tabligh leaders, including Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, to preach weekly at the main Mosque.
• Community Development Fund: Pool resources from all factions to rebuild schools, clinics and mosques.
• Youth Empowerment Programs: Focus on vocational training, entrepreneurship and Islamic education.
• Inter-Factional Council: A rotating leadership body that ensures representation and shared decision-making.
• Government Oversight and Mediation: A neutral task force to monitor progress and prevent external interference.

A Final Plea: To our Muslim brothers and sisters: Unity is not a luxury. It is a necessity for any meaningful progress and community respect. Once again, the Qur’an commands us to “hold fast to the rope of Allah, all together, and do not become divided” (Surah Al-Imran 3:103).

Let us heed that call. Let us rise above factionalism. Let us build a Muslim community that is respected, empowered and united, for the sake of our children, our faith and our future. May Almighty Allah guide us all.

The writer is a Lecturer, Rights Activist and National Secretary for Grants and Social Services at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. He is a grandson of Late Mzee Idd Kawaganya, who was murdered, among others, due to unnecessary Muslim factions in 1968 at Kemishego-Kajara in present-day Ntungamo District. Can be reached at Email: miisauganda@gmail.com