His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, the 2nd Deputy Mufti, represented His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, as Chief Guest at the closure of a three-day seminar that brought together over one thousand Muslim women leaders (Amirats) from various Muslim districts under the Eastern Muslim Region of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). The event took place on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
The well-attended seminar, organized by the Office of the Regional Assistant to the Mufti, Dr. Sheikh Ahmad Hamid Wandenga, was held at Hadijah Education Centre in the central part of Mbale City, Eastern Uganda.
In his fatherly speech, Dr. Sheikh Bukenya hailed the Eastern Regional Assistant, Dr. Sheikh Wandenga, for steering his team in organizing such educational gatherings of Muslim leaders through refresher courses and mindset-change orientation sessions. He emphasized that these efforts prepare leaders to perform their responsibilities effectively in their communities.
> “The Mufti has sent his personal and profound gratitude to you for being exemplary and worthy to be emulated by the rest of the other Muslim regions,” Sheikh Bukenya remarked, a statement that was met with thunderous chants of *Allahu Akbar* (Allah is Great) from the smartly dressed Muslim ladies in multicolored veils.
Sheikh Bukenya implored the participants to take home the knowledge they had acquired and share it with others in their respective areas. He further urged Muslim parents to intensify efforts in educating their children in both Islamic theology and secular studies, while also supporting Muslim schools in their areas. He advised parents to improve nearby schools in terms of infrastructure and quality education instead of sending children to far-off institutions in search of standards that could be developed locally.
He concluded by encouraging Muslim women to fully embrace government-designed poverty alleviation programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and SACCOS, aimed at boosting household incomes. He also called upon Muslims to remain peaceful and shun all forms of violence during the forthcoming national elections next year.
Earlier, Dr. Sheikh Wandenga gave an update on the state of Muslim activities in the region, including forthcoming programs. Miss Halima Wakhanya, the Sironko District Local Government Councilor and team leader of the organizing committee, presented a detailed report on participants’ aspirations, the courses covered during the seminar, and recommendations for improving family welfare, while also seeking continued support from the Mufti’s office.
The seminar was attended by District Kadhis from Bugisu Muslim District, Sironko, Bududa, Butaleja, Tororo, and other areas.
