(KAMPALA) – The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the Islamic Council of South Sudan (ICSS) have signed a new 10 year cooperation agreement to promote Islamic education, leadership and institutional development across the East African region.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at UMSC headquarters in Old Kampala, replacing an earlier two year agreement. The signing took place at the end of a week long leadership training for 40 Muslim leaders from South Sudan.
The renewed partnership is expected to boost collaboration in Islamic education, conflict resolution, governance, and training in leadership. The ICSS, which is still developing its institutional capacity, stands to benefit from UMSC’s experience in managing Islamic structures and leading community programmes.
UMSC Secretary General Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi said the agreement shows a strong commitment to continuous regional engagement.
“This partnership ensures a continuous exchange of ideas and support in strengthening Muslim leadership in South Sudan,” Ssekyanzi said. “It is a model of how we can build resilient Islamic institutions through collaboration.”
The leadership training programme, jointly organised by UMSC and the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), was held at the IUIU Female Campus in Kabojja. It covered a range of topics, including Islamic banking, administration, preaching strategies, and mediation skills.
Training was facilitated by respected Islamic scholars including Dr Sheikh Ziyadi Swaleh Lubanga, Sheikh Hassan Mwaita, and Sheikh Abdallah Sserujja. They focused their sessions on the unique challenges facing emerging Muslim leaders in South Sudan.
Abdallah Baraji Rual, Secretary General of the ICSS, praised the MoU as a timely step that reinforces regional Islamic unity.
“This cooperation enhances brotherhood between Uganda and South Sudan,” Rual said. “We commend Mufti Mubaje for his reformist leadership and commitment to Islamic propagation. This MoU is a milestone in our institutional journey.”
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, who presided over the ceremony, reaffirmed the UMSC’s commitment to support Muslim communities in neighbouring countries like South Sudan.
“We are committed to sharing our experience to strengthen the pillars of Islamic leadership and education in South Sudan,” Mufti Mubaje said.
The MoU will guide inter-institutional cooperation until 2035 and is seen as part of broader efforts to encourage peaceful coexistence, promote Islamic scholarship and support socio economic development in the region through Islamic values.
