Old KAMPALA– Hon. Counsel Haj Muhammad Ali Aluma, the UMSC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance & Administration, hosted a group of Muslim students from Rwanda University under their organization, the Rwanda University Muslim Students Organization (RUMSO).
They were led by their President, Yahaya Hagenimana, and accompanied by Muslim student leaders from sister universities, including Islamic Call University College and the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), at the UMSC headquarters.
Hon. Aluma met the students in his office at the UMSC headquarters on Friday, August 14th, 2025. In his welcoming remarks, Hon. Aluma shared his personal journey as a student leader, from primary and secondary school to his election as Guide President during his time at IUIU a few years ago. He also served as Vice President of the Muslim Students of Uganda.
“So be courageous when serving your fellow students and take it as a divine calling meant to promote Islam in universities,” Aluma remarked.
He provided the students with a brief historical account of the coming of Islam to Uganda and the background of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), including its structure, committees, and nationwide activities. Having previously served in similar roles, he highlighted challenges Muslim students often face at tertiary institutions, such as difficulties in observing daily prayers and female students being restricted from wearing the veil.
“So take it as a priority to fight for Muslim students’ rights to practice their religious values, especially those studying in non-Islamic institutions. Mobilize and sensitize fellow students to attend seminars or Darasus where they can learn more about their Islamic Deen, as some come to university without prior knowledge of Islamic theology,” he advised. He also encouraged the students to organize career guidance sessions for students in lower academic institutions to help them choose appropriate courses at universities.
Addressing regional cooperation, Hon. Aluma noted that exchange visits like this strengthen ties, as Ugandans and Rwandese share much in common. “You Muslim students in Rwanda need to tell the world about the role Muslims played during the genocide, when thousands of Rwandese were killed. Safe places at that time were the mosques, which hosted people regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation,” he said.
Hon. Aluma concluded by urging the students to work under official Muslim organizations in Rwanda and support the government in development initiatives.
Earlier, Yahaya Hagenimana, leader of the Rwandese student delegation, expressed profound gratitude to Hon. Aluma for hosting them. He shared that they were in transit to attend a Workshop organized by World Assembly of Muslim youth – WAMY in Nairobi, Kenya, and pledged to spend more time in Uganda on a future visit. He also mentioned preparations to host their Ugandan counterparts in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Muhoozi Abdu-Salam, Guide President of Islamic Call University College, and Omulongo Wasswa Hassan Sahafu, National General Secretary of the Muslim Students Association of Uganda and a student of Islamic Call University College, also expressed gratitude to Hon. Aluma for sparing time and engaging in fruitful conversations with them.
