By Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga, the District Kadhi of Jinja, has urged Ugandan Muslims to refrain from using social media platforms, especially TikTok, to insult Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda.
Basoga emphasized that leadership is ordained by Allah and that Muslim scholars and leaders traditionally convene to decide on community guidance.
“If I were to ask who should be the next Mufti of Uganda, there would be no unanimous answer. However, Mufti Mubaje will use this term to groom the next leader,” he stated.
Basoga defended the recent extension of Mufti Mubajje’s tenure, likening it to historical Islamic leadership transitions. He assured Muslims that Mubajje’s extended term would focus on mentoring a suitable successor.
However, Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Qatar, Muhammad Baswari Kezaala, challenged this perspective, questioning the comparison and criticizing the leadership decision-making process at Old Kampala.
Abubakar was chosen after the death of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), whereas Mufti Mubajje’s tenure was merely extended by a select few,” Kezaala pointed out. He further criticized how leadership decisions were made at Old Kampala, citing a decline in integrity among office-bearers.
The debate surrounding Mufti Mubaje’s tenure has sparked division within Uganda’s Muslim community. Some advocate for leadership stability, while others push for more democratic decision-making processes. The extension of Mubajje’s tenure has been a topic of controversy, with some arguing it undermines constitutional provisions.
