Mufti to Preside Over Fundraising Drive for West Nile’s Oldest Mosque

by Ashiraf Zziwa

Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, has graciously accepted an invitation to preside over a fundraising drive for the construction of Masjid Hirai, located at the foot of Mountain Lindrea in Terego Local Government District, under the Arua Muslim District. The mosque will honor the legacy of the first and oldest stone mosque in the region, built atop the mountain by Ottoman settlers, known locally as “Tukutuku” (the Turkish), around 1830 during the Ottoman rule in the Equatorial Province. This province encompassed present-day Egypt, Sudan, and parts of Uganda, including the West Nile region.
The Ottomans, who were Muslims, played a significant role in introducing and spreading Islam in the area, working through local leaders like Chief Arikua Babua, also known as Babua Fodomullah. The original stone mosque, a historical landmark, will be preserved as a museum to generate income from visitors, ensuring its legacy and contribution to the region’s Islamic heritage is maintained.
This information was part of a presentation given to Mufti Mubaje by the leader of the delegation Al Haj Alhai Banya, the Chairman of the West Nile Islamic Development Forum and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee. They met the Mufti in his office at the UMSC headquarters, Friday August 30th 2024. And the delegation, which included members of the General Assembly, district leaders, academicians, and representatives of women and youth, informed the Mufti that the memorable fundraising event is scheduled for September 29, 2024.
In his welcoming remarks, Mufti Mubaje briefed the visiting leaders on the current state of affairs at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), particularly highlighting ongoing development projects at the UMSC headquarters. He also emphasized the importance of unity and brotherhood within the Muslim community.
Hon. Prof. Dr. Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira, the UMSC National Chairperson, also addressed the gathering. He explained the recent UMSC Self-Sustainability Project, which aims to boost household incomes for ordinary Muslims in villages through initiatives such as coffee and cocoa farming, sheep and goat rearing, and poultry farming. He urged Muslims nationwide to embrace this poverty alleviation program. Mr. Dramani Saidi, a Senior Lecturer at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Arua Branch, delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of the delegation. He expressed deep gratitude to the Mufti and his administration for their efforts, describing the initiative as a long-awaited turning point in the right direction.
Other top UMSC officials present at the meeting included His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the Deputy Mufti; Hon. Haj Muzamir Abon, the UMSC Deputy National Chairperson; Hon. Sophie Safina Kenyangi, the National Chairperson of the Muslim Women’s Council; Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi, the UMSC Secretary General; his first Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance, Hon. Counsel Muhammad Ali Aluma; and various department heads.