The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is entering a transition period that will fundamentally reshape Muslim leadership, with future appointments set to be strictly based on academic qualifications, Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje has announced.
Speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony in Kayunga District, the Mufti said UMSC had spent decades building governance systems and human resource capacity and was now ready for a peaceful shift to a new generation of educated leadership.
"The journey has not been easy to reach this period of transition," Sheikh Mubaje said, noting that the council had laid structures capable of sustaining Muslim leadership and development initiatives for generations to come. "You can now begin to prepare to witness the peaceful change of an era."
Under the new framework, UMSC leaders will be required to meet minimum academic thresholds to qualify for promotion.
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According to the Mufti, village Imams will need at least a Primary Leaving Certificate in Islamic theology, county-level leaders must have O-Level qualifications, District Kadhis will require advanced-level (Thanawi) training, while Regional Assistants to the Mufti must hold a master's degree in Sharia.
He added that within the next 10 years, candidates for the position of Mufti will be required to possess a PhD in Sharia.
The Mufti urged current leaders to upgrade their academic credentials during the transition period, warning that those who fail to meet the new standards risk being phased out as UMSC reforms take effect.
The announcement was made during a ceremony organized by the family of Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, the Second Deputy Mufti, to celebrate his completion of a PhD in Qur'anic Sciences from the Islamic University in Uganda.
Mubaje cited Dr. Sheikh Bukenya's academic journey as an example of the kind of scholarly leadership the Muslim community needs.
Several Muslim leaders and dignitaries welcomed the shift, describing it as a major step toward strengthening institutional leadership within the Muslim community.
UMSC Secretary General Haj Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi said the emphasis on higher education would help address modern challenges facing Muslims, while Senior Presidential Advisor on Middle Eastern Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Kisule underscored the role of knowledge in community development.
Sheikh Mubaje also called on Ugandans to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections, urging voters to choose leaders committed to national stability.
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The event was attended by Muslim clerics, local government officials, scholars, and members of the wider Muslim community, marking what many described as a turning point in the governance of Muslim affairs in Uganda.
