Haji Muhammad Ali Aluma, the UMSC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance & Administration has hailed Sheikh Abdu-Karim Ali Ungei, the outgoing Khadi of Nebbi Muslim District under the West Nile Muslim Region, for being an exemplary leader who peacefully handed over office to pave way for others to serve the community.
Aluma, who represented the Mufti and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), made the remarks while meeting Sheikh Ungei, who was accompanied by Sheikh Muzamir Musitafa, the Deputy Kadhi, and Abdu-Malik Sulaiman, the Nebbi Muslim District Chairman, in the Office of Religious Affairs on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
“You still need to compile a detailed inventory of the council property that was in your possession so that, in future, no one can turn around and blame you for any eventuality. Leaving this vital information intact will also help you move on freely in your private life,” Aluma advised. Sheikh Ungei agreed to compile the inventory in conjunction with his District Secretary within a short period.
Aluma concluded by assuring the outgoing Khadi that the UMSC would recommend him where necessary in his future endeavors, noting that he remains a prominent community member capable of offering developmental ideas, including conducting Da’wah (Islamic propagation) in communities.
Sheikh Imran Abdnoor Ssali echoed similar sentiments, thanking the former Khadi for taking a bold step to hand over office peacefully, including the official vehicle that was in his possession.
On his part, Sheikh Abdu-Karim Ali Ungei expressed profound gratitude to His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda, for granting him the opportunity to serve as the top Muslim District Religious Leader in his home area for the past 13 years.
He listed several achievements during his tenure, including the construction of permanent brick mosques to replace grass-thatched temporary structures that were common in the district due to widespread poverty among the faithful.
“In fact, one of the major challenges I faced in office was poverty. During my tenure, the District Council failed to raise money for monthly salaries and Muslim activities. I personally mobilized my own resources to purchase a plot of land on which a main mosque was built in the Local Government Town Council,” he revealed.
Sheikh Ungei also recounted the challenges he encountered while in office, particularly what he termed “deliberate and unnecessary interference” by some regional supervisors, which he said was driven by personal interests.
“For instance, when my management—following public outcry—recommended the retirement of overaged county sheikhs who could no longer serve effectively, the regional supervisors refused to honor the decision. Instead, they used it as a personal grudge to sow discord among the faithful,” he said.
“These errant sheikhs went ahead to register a private limited company, which they later used to grab 15 acres of Muslim land, falsely claiming it as theirs. As if that wasn’t enough, with the help of another clique, and realizing that removing the Khadi was a tough task, they conspired to create another district to serve their selfish interests,” he testified.
His testimony prompted the attention of the UMSC officials present, who promised to make a follow-up on the matter.
The Khadi concluded by pledging continued loyalty to the UMSC and expressed readiness to serve in another capacity as an Islamic propagator.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdu-Malik Sulaiman, the District Chairman, said the District Council was caught unaware by the Khadi’s early exit, noting that they had enjoyed a good working relationship over the last three years.
“In fact, this has to do with the machinations of a few individuals in our district,” he said, pledging to ensure that the district remains in good hands under whoever will be appointed as the new Khadi.
The event ended with the outgoing Khadi handing over the keys of the District Khadi’s vehicle, now parked at the UMSC Headquarters.