His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the recently released national census results, which he claims inaccurately show a significant decline in the Muslim population. In response, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has announced plans to conduct its own nationwide Muslim Census to determine the true population.
According to the census report by the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics, the Muslim population stands at 6.05 million, a figure widely disputed by Muslims across the country. “How can someone claim that Muslim polygamous families with multiple children have decreased compared to monogamous families with only one or two children?” Mufti Mubaje asked.
Sheikh Mubaje inspecting the ongoing construction at the business center
He suggested that this could be a deliberate attempt by certain groups to deny Muslims access to national resources by portraying them as a shrinking minority. “We still maintain that the Muslim population has doubled to nearly 12 million, based on our projections during the UMSC general elections a few years ago.”
This announcement was part of Mufti Mubaje’s speech delivered after Friday Juma prayers at Masjid Abubakar in Mbarara City, Ankole-Kigezi Muslim Region, Western Uganda, on October 11, 2024.
In his address, which was filled with Quranic quotations and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Sheikh Mubaje expressed gratitude to the Mbarara Muslim leadership, led by Kadhi Sheikh Abdallah Mukwaya, UMSC General Assembly members, and the Muslim community for overcoming past conflicts and embracing Islamic values of brotherhood and unity.
“I wish to pay special tribute to the Muslim youth, who are the majority in the mosque, for spearheading the renovation of the mosque and constructing a multi-billion business center to fund Islamic activities in the district,” he said.
The Mufti also urged the youth not to be misled by errant sheikhs who use social media to spread hate speech and insults toward national leaders, including the head of state, the Buganda Monarchy, and the Mufti himself. Such behavior, he emphasized, tarnishes the image of Muslims.
Sheikh Mubaje highlighted UMSC’s efforts to boost Muslim household incomes through the recently launched Self-Sustainability Agribusiness Project, with coffee farming as the focus in the Ankole-Kigezi Muslim Region.
In response to a request from Sheikh Abdu-Karim Abdallah Katamba, UMSC Regional Assistant, the Mufti pledged financial support for the ongoing construction of the business center. He also declared the official completion of the Abubakar Mosque renovation in Mbarara City.
Before the Mufti’s address, UMSC Secretary General Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi spoke about upcoming UMSC events. Sheikh Katamba, Sheikh Mukwaya, Haj Rashid Mukasa (Mbarara Muslim District Chairperson), the mosque imam, and the mosque chairman each provided updates on community development and spiritual growth.
The day’s sermon, delivered by Sheikh Dr. Ziyad Swaleh Lubanga, emphasized the importance of brotherhood, as ordained by Allah in the Holy Quran.
The Mufti, accompanied by UMSC National Management members, toured the ongoing business center construction. Among the attendees were Dr. Ismail Gainamungu (UMSC Executive Member), Hon. Kassim Kaduyu (General Assembly representative), neighboring district kadhis, county sheikhs, and imams.