Sheikh Bukenya’s Qur’an journey earns global recognition

By Ahmed Idriss

Uganda’s 2nd Deputy Mufti, Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, is steadily emerging as one of the country’s most visible figures in the global Qur’anic community; a journey rooted in years of teaching, recitation, and mentorship.

Long before his appointment to national leadership, Sheikh Bukenya was widely known for leading Taraweeh prayers at Wandegeya Mosque in the early 2000s, where his recitation drew large congregations and inspired many young Muslims to pursue Qur’an memorisation.

In October 2024, he rose to become Uganda’s 2nd Deputy Mufti after serving as Kadhi of Kayunga Muslim District — stepping into a leadership role that now blends administration with his lifelong commitment to Qur’anic education.

Today, that commitment is gaining international recognition.

At the global Qur’an awards ceremony held at the Radisson Convention Hotel on February 18, 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, Sheikh Bukenya was honoured for his contribution to teaching and nurturing memorizers of the Holy Qur’an.

The event brought together participants from across the world and was presided over by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Bin Abdu-Karim Al-Issa, who served as chief guest.

The recognition was not his alone.

Among those acknowledged alongside him was Hafiz Abdu-Karim Kabito, one of his students, whose achievement reflects the impact of the memorisation structures Sheikh Bukenya continues to support through Islamic education institutions.

Over the years, his engagement has extended beyond Uganda’s borders. His standing in the international Qur’anic fraternity has seen him serve as a judge in a Qur’an competition in Tanzania, a role that affirmed his credibility among global scholars of recitation and memorisation.

Yet those close to him often point to mentorship as his most enduring legacy.

Through his involvement in Qur’an memorisation training and humanitarian initiatives, Sheikh Bukenya has worked to ensure that learning the Qur’an remains accessible to younger generations, particularly in communities where structured Islamic education is limited.

His recent recognition places Uganda more firmly within the global map of Qur’anic scholarship and signals a growing international acknowledgement of the country’s role in nurturing Huffaz.

From mosque pulpits in Kampala to international platforms, Sheikh Bukenya’s journey reflects a quiet but consistent mission preserving the Qur’an not only through recitation, but through people.