Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda, is filled with joy at the start of 2025 following the High Court’s annulment of previous rulings regarding the governance of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). The court’s decision to direct all parties to resolve their disputes through arbitration, as stipulated in the UMSC constitution, represents a significant victory for both him and the council.
In an interview with the media on Saturday, January 4, 2025, Mufti Mubaje revealed that Justice Douglas Karekona Ssingiza delivered this ruling on Friday, emphasizing that arbitration through the Muslim Arbitration Council (MAC) is the designated mechanism for addressing such disputes.
Mufti Mubaje expressed that he had entrusted all matters to Allah, seeking divine guidance for the judges involved in the case. He noted that it was through his patience and faith in Allah’s plan.
He stated that the decision was reached after a contentious case involving allegations of mismanagement and irregularities from the Ggangu Special Sitting, where the attempt to remove him as Mufti of Uganda was contested.
Mufti Mubajje stated that Justice Ssingiza observed that the Mufti was not a party to the case, deeming the actions taken at that sitting procedurally flawed.
Furthermore, he stated that the court dismissed the contempt allegations against him, which accused him of defying a court order by continuing to perform his duties. He thanked Allah for Justice Ssingiza’s ruling, which found that there was no valid order to violate since the original judgment had been set aside. Mubajje added that the judge found no evidence of willful noncompliance or bad faith on his part.
Mufti Mubajje concluded by stating that in the ruling, Justice Ssingiza emphasized the importance of adhering to the arbitration framework outlined in the UMSC constitution, noting that bypassing this process undermines both institutional integrity and unity within the Muslim community.
He directed all parties to pursue arbitration through the Material Adverse Change in legal terms (MAC) for any disputes related to management and interpersonal relationships within the UMSC.
