Makerere University elevates Kibuli’s Kiggundu to Professorship

By Abdul-Wahid Kakande

Dr Muhammad Kiggundu- Musoke, director of Ccommunication and research in the Office of the Supreme Mufti at Kibuli, has been promoted to the rank of associate Professor by the Makerere University Appointments Board, as Muslims continue to position themselves for higher positions in t he  c o u n t ry .

Kiggundu becomes one of the very few within the country’s mainstream

Muslim religious leadership structures — to attain such a high academic rank, highlighting a growing shift among Muslim professionals towards excellence in academia and leadership.

According to an April 2 notice issued by Deus Tayari Mujuni, Kiggundu, a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Language Education, is among 14 lecturers elevated by the university board. The promotions were approved during the board’s 788th meeting held on April 1.

His elevation to Associate Professor is being hailed not only as a personal achievement but also as a symbolic breakthrough for Uganda’s Muslim community, where few scholars within religious leadership circles have risen to such senior academic ranks at the country’s premier university.

Dr Kiggundu described the promotion as the result of decades of dedication and hard work.

“This academic journey is a huge achievement for me because the process is very demanding. I therefore thank the Appointments Board for considering me for promotion,” he told The Friday Call.

He noted that attaining professorial rank at Makerere University requires navigating rigorous academic and administrative requirements.

“You should have seen so many students graduate. It is not an easy journey because every step is carefully checked and must be approved,” he said.

“This academic journey is a huge achievement for me because to get here, you go through a lot. I therefore thank the appointments board for considering me for promotion,” he said.

Kiggundu has built a strong academic and leadership profile at Makerere University, particularly within the College of Education and External Studies (CEES). He gained prominence through his tenure as chairperson of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), where he played a key role in advocating for staff welfare and leading negotiations on issues affecting academic staff.

During his tenure as MUASA chairperson, Dr Kiggundu spearheaded the establishment of the Forum for Academic Staff of Public Universities (FASPU) and, as the group’s pioneer chairperson, championed initiatives for salary enhancements for academic staff.

At the conclusion of his term, he was appointed Manager of Communications and International Relations at Makerere University — the first person ever to hold the position.

In addition to his roles at Makerere, Kiggundu also teaches at the Islamic University in Uganda and Nkumba University. Beyond academia and his work with the Office of the Supreme Mufti, he chairs Technical Committee 405 – Education and learning services at the Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS)

BLESSING

Sheikh Twaha Kezaala, the Secretary-General in the Office of the Supreme Mufti, described Kiggundu’s elevation as a “huge blessing” for the institution.

“This shows that our office has people of substance with the necessary expertise to execute its work. We are proud of him, and we also thank Makerere University for recognising his dedication and promoting him,” Kezaala said.

“As Muslims, we don’t have many professors. I believe his elevation will inspire more young Muslims to aspire to reach this level,” he added.

Dr Kiggundu joins a distinguished group of Ugandan Muslim academics, including Eton Marus, Saudah Namyalo Birabwa, the late Nachuha Sarah Kasozi, Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, Musa Matovu, and Edris Serugo Kasenene, who have attained the professorial rank.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY

Kiggundu’s academic journey started in 1975 at Nabulooto Qur’an School in Nakifuma, Mukono district. He was later moved to Kawuku C.O.U Primary School for his P6 and P7 classes.

In 1982, he enrolled at City High School and two years later, joined Kampala High School where he sat for his O-level exams. He then proceeded to Kibuli Secondary School for his A-level studies.

Kiggundu’s pursuit of higher education took him abroad to Emir Abdelkader University of Islamic Sciences in Constantine, Algeria, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later returned to Uganda, earning both a Master’s and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Makerere University.

In addition to his formal degrees, he has undertaken advanced studies at the University of California, USA, and Tampere University in Finland. He also attended the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), where he studied strategic public relations.