County Sheikhs get official dress code

By Ahmed Idriss

County Sheikhs across Uganda have been given 30 days to acquire new official robes and caps that will become the prescribed attire when they represent the Muslim leadership at public and official functions.

The blue robes, decorated with silver embroidery and bearing the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council logo on the left chest, were unveiled at the Jinja Muslim District Council headquarters during a gathering of senior Muslim leaders from across the country.

The outfit is completed by a blue-and-silver cap.

Second Deputy Mufti Dr. Hafidh Sheikh Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, who represented Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje at the ceremony, said the attire was intended to give County Sheikhs a recognisable identity when carrying out their official duties.

He directed all County Sheikhs to wear the new outfit whenever they represent the Muslim leadership at official or public functions.

The move follows the introduction of a similar dress code for District Kadhis several months ago. District Kadhis wear green robes with gold embroidery, matching green-and-gold caps and a white shawl bearing the Council’s logo.

The Council plans to extend the dress code to other levels of Muslim leadership.

Sheikh Bukenya said official attire would also be introduced for Regional Assistants to the Mufti, the Mufti and his deputies, as well as Imams.

Sheikh Imran Ssali, the Secretary for Religious Affairs, gave County Sheikhs 30 days to acquire the new attire. He said the requirement was intended to promote a common identity, uniformity and dignity among Muslim leaders.

But the directive comes with a consequence for those who ignore it.

Sheikh Ssali warned that County Sheikhs who fail to obtain the official attire within the stipulated period could lose recognition or the authority to represent the Council at official functions.

Those yet to obtain the outfit have been instructed to register and have their measurements taken through their respective District Kadhis.

RELIEF DRIVE EXPANDS TO 10,000 KARAMOJA HOUSEHOLDS

Bukenya called for increased contributions to the ongoing relief campaign after the leadership’s recent visit to the region exposed the scale of food shortages facing communities there.

The new target is to reach 10,000 households in Kaabong and Karenga districts with relief supplies.

Bukenya appealed to Muslims, well-wishers and other members of the public to contribute towards the expanded operation, saying conditions remained particularly difficult in parts of North Karamoja.

The Regional Assistant to the Mufti for Teso-Karamoja, Sheikh Obilan Abubakar Umar, welcomed the target but cautioned that repeated food distributions would not address the underlying problem.

He called for investment in food production, particularly irrigation, farm machinery and agricultural inputs.

Sheikh Obilan proposed the establishment of a Baitu Al-Maal, which he described as a treasury or grain-storage initiative, alongside irrigation farming.

“We have very fertile yet redundant land where we can grow enough food to feed our region and the country,” he said.

“If we could only be empowered with irrigation equipment, machinery and agri-inputs, we shall not need more relief supplies,” he added.

He also warned that the food crisis should not be viewed as a Karamoja problem alone, arguing that communities in Teso were facing hardship with less public attention.

“Otherwise, as we all run to Karamoja to deliver food, Teso is dying in silence because they lack media sympathy,” he said.