Muslims Urge Mufti Mubajje to Step Down Amid Growing Pressure.

Old Kampala Muslim faction leader Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje. Courtesy image.

Muslim leaders and followers in Uganda are intensifying calls for the resignation of Sheikh Shaban Mubajje from his role as the Mufti of Uganda, urging him to relinquish the position within two months. The growing pressure comes as many believe that the 70-year-old leader should not continue in office, citing both moral grounds and the constitutional age limit for the position.

Sheikh Mubajje, who ascended to the prestigious position of Mufti on December 11, 2000, following an election at Hotel Africana in Kampala, has held the office for over two decades. However, many in the Muslim community are now questioning his leadership and his suitability to contest for the position again, especially considering his advanced age and the stipulations outlined in the Ugandan Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Constitution.

The UMSC last held elections for members of its General Assembly in 2022, but the position of Mufti has not been contested since Mubajje’s election in 2000. Critics argue that the Mufti, who will turn 71 in the coming months, no longer meets the expectations of the office, especially in terms of leadership and moral authority.

A key point of contention is the constitutional provision that limits the age of the Mufti to 70 years. Many Ugandan Muslims are now calling for compliance with this rule, stating that Mubajje’s continued leadership could undermine the credibility of the Muslim community in Uganda.

Among those expressing dissatisfaction is Sheikh Abdullah Ssemambo, a prominent Muslim figure, who has publicly joined the call for change. Ssemambo and other critics emphasize that the time has come for a new leader to take the reins and guide the Muslim community in Uganda forward.

As the pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether Sheikh Mubajje will heed the calls to step down or if he will seek to extend his leadership despite the controversy surrounding his tenure.

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