By Jazeerah Mirembe
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has launched official cloaks for County Sheikhs, introducing a standard attire intended to promote uniformity, identity, dignity and proper identification of Muslim clerics serving under the Council. The official attire was launched on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Jinja Muslim District Council Headquarters in Jinja City, during a colourful ceremony attended by senior Muslim leaders, District Kadhis, County Sheikhs and members of their respective committees.
The function was presided over by His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, the Second Deputy Mufti, who represented His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda.
Among those who attended were Hon. Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC National Chairperson; Sheikh Imran Abdunoor Ssali, the UMSC Secretary for Religious Affairs; Sheikh Shafie Songolo, a UMSC National Executive Committee Member; members of the UMSC General Assembly; Dr. Sheikh Hussein Muhammad Bbowa, the Busoga Muslim Regional Assistant to the Mufti; Sheikh Abubakar Umar Obilan, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti in charge of the North Eastern Muslim Region; District Kadhis; Sheikh Nurman Hatim Wamala, a veteran educator; County Sheikhs and members of their respective committees.
On arrival in Jinja, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, accompanied by Hon. Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, was warmly received by Muslim leaders led by Dr. Sheikh Hussein Muhammad Bbowa and Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga, the Kadhi of Jinja Muslim District.
The delegation first toured the newly acquired head offices of the Jinja Muslim District Council on Mvule Crescent Street in the heart of Jinja Industrial City.
His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Bukenya officially commissioned the offices by cutting the ribbon and signing the visitors’ book before joining the other leaders and guests at the main ceremony, which was held in the open courtyard under several tents.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sheikh Imran Abdunoor Ssali, the UMSC Secretary for Religious Affairs, explained the rationale behind the introduction of the official cloaks. He said the attire was designed to promote uniformity, identity and dignity among Muslim clerics while also enabling the public to properly identify officials serving under the UMSC. “We hereby inform the general public that whoever is seen donning the attire is the recognised clergy serving under the UMSC,” Sheikh Ssali said.
Dr. Sheikh Hussein Muhammad Bbowa, the Busoga Muslim Regional Assistant to the Mufti, welcomed the initiative, describing the introduction of the special cloaks for senior Muslim clerics as timely. He also expressed gratitude to the UMSC National Management Committee for selecting Jinja in the Busoga region to host the national launch of the official County Sheikh attire.
Dr. Sheikh Bbowa urged County Sheikhs to respect and follow the guidelines governing the use of the official attire while executing their duties in public.
The launch also brought attention to a long-running dispute over Muslim property in Jinja. Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga, the Kadhi of Jinja Muslim District and host of the function, used his three-page written speech to highlight what he described as a continuing wrangle between the Muslim leadership and a group of individuals over property belonging to the Muslim community.
Sheikh Basoga said the individuals had allegedly occupied the Council’s property since the 1990s until the Muslim leadership took steps to recover it. He said the matter eventually reached President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who supported efforts to recover the property, resulting in the title being secured in the names of the UMSC.
“This prime land is the only surviving property we have managed to secure out of the 24 plots of land that were originally offered to us by the late President Idi Amin in the 1970s. All the rest were grabbed. Therefore, we can’t afford to lose it too as the clique thinks, because now they have taken us to court,” Sheikh Basoga said.
He expressed gratitude to Hon. Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC National Chairperson, for the financial support he provided towards the recovery of the property and renovation of the newly acquired offices of the Jinja Muslim District Council. Hon. Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC National Chairperson, recalled the efforts undertaken by the Jinja Muslim leadership to recover the property and appealed to the individuals challenging ownership to reconsider their position.
He also welcomed the introduction of the special attire for County Sheikhs, describing the initiative as historic and appropriate. Hon. Prof. Dr. Lubega further disclosed that the top organs of the UMSC are scheduled to hold a five-day retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi under the auspices of the Office of the President.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, the Second Deputy Mufti, officially launched the cloaks for County Sheikhs nationwide on behalf of His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda.
He also conveyed a message from the Mufti following his recent visit to Karamoja, where he delivered relief food to communities affected by hunger.
His Eminence Sheikh Bukenya said the Mufti was deeply touched by the level of suffering he witnessed during the visit and disclosed plans for another relief mission to Karamoja in late November.
“The Mufti was really touched by the level of suffering he witnessed. Therefore, plans are being made for another trip in late November and, in that spirit, he implores all Muslim faithful to mobilise more tonnes of food for the people in Karamoja who are perishing because of hunger caused by prolonged drought that has affected their food crops and livestock,” he said. The UMSC called upon Muslim faithful to support the planned relief effort by mobilising food supplies for communities affected by the prolonged drought.