County Sheikhs across Uganda are set to appear in a new official dress when representing the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), following the launch of a distinctive blue robe and cap for the Muslim leaders. The new attire, unveiled in Jinja, is part of a broader effort by the Council to create a common identity and improve the visibility and representation of its leadership structures at public functions.
The launch was held at the UMSC Jinja Muslim District Council Headquarters and brought together senior Muslim leaders, District Kadhis and County Sheikhs from different parts of the country. The Mufti of Uganda, Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, was represented by the Second Deputy Mufti, Dr. Hafidh Sheikh Muhammad Haruna Bukenya.
Sheikh Bukenya said the attire would henceforth be required whenever County Sheikhs attend official functions in their capacity as UMSC representatives. The County Sheikh’s outfit consists of a blue robe with silver embroidery, bearing the UMSC logo on the left side of the chest, together with a blue-and-silver cap.
The move comes months after the Council introduced similar official attire for District Kadhis. Their outfit consists of a green robe with gold embroidery, a green-and-gold cap and a white shawl bearing the UMSC logo. UMSC Secretary for Religious Affairs Sheikh Imran Ssali said the standardised attire is intended to promote uniformity, identity, effective representation and dignity among Muslim leaders.
He has given County Sheikhs 30 days to acquire the new attire, warning that leaders without the official tunic may not be recognised or permitted to represent UMSC at official functions. The Council is also expected to introduce official attire for the Regional Assistants to the Mufti, the Mufti and his Deputies, as well as Imams. The Jinja gathering also provided an opportunity for UMSC leaders to renew their appeal for support to communities facing food insecurity in Karamoja.
Sheikh Bukenya said the Council’s recent relief mission to the region gave its leadership firsthand exposure to the conditions in some of the affected villages. UMSC has now set a target of reaching 10,000 households in Kaabong and Karenga districts during its next major humanitarian intervention in North Karamoja.
Sheikh Bukenya called on Muslims, other members of the public, Regional Assistants to the Mufti and District Kadhis to support the initiative and prepare to join the next humanitarian caravan. But the Regional Assistant to the Mufti for Teso-Karamoja, Sheikh Obilan Abubakar Umar, said relief supplies alone would not provide a lasting solution to food insecurity in the region.
He called for investment in irrigation, agricultural machinery and farm inputs to enable communities to utilise the region’s fertile land and produce their own food. “We have very fertile yet redundant land where we can grow enough food to feed our region and the country. If we could only be empowered with irrigation equipment, machinery and agri-inputs, we shall not need more relief supplies. Otherwise, as we all run to Karamoja to deliver food, Teso is dying in silence because they lack media sympathy,” Sheikh Obilan said.
He appealed to UMSC, the Islamic University in Uganda, the Government and other well-wishers to support the Teso-Karamoja region in establishing a “Baitu Al-Maal”, which he described as a treasury or silos initiative, to support large-scale irrigation farming and food production. Sheikh Obilan also urged County Sheikhs and District Kadhis in the Teso-Karamoja region to comply with the new UMSC dress requirements and have their measurements taken through their respective District Kadhis-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
