Sheikhat Nakabugo tipped for UMSC Sharia director role
By Ahmed Idriss
In a historic first, Sheikhat Zainabu Nakabugo has been nominated to a senior religious leadership role at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), breaking a decades-long precedent in the Council, which has guided Muslim affairs in Uganda since its establishment in 1972.
Nakabugo’s nomination was announced on April 1, during the UMSC national management committee’s weekly meeting, chaired by the Mufti, Sheikh Dr Shaban Ramathan Mubaje. Her nomination is subject to formal approval by the UMSC governing organs.
“Her appointment reflects our commitment to greater inclusion of women and youth in the leadership of Muslim affairs across Uganda,” said Sheikh Mubaje.
Nakabugo, a Libya-trained scholar, holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Sharia from the Islamic Call University College in Tripoli. She also earned a postgraduate diploma in Education (PGDE) from the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sharia at IUIU. Her academic and professional achievements have positioned her as one of Uganda’s leading female scholars in Islamic jurisprudence,
Prior to her nomination, Nakabugo headed the Islamic and Sharia Department at the Old Kampala-based Islamic Call University (ICU).
Her appointment, once confirmed, is expected to strengthen efforts around female engagement in Sharia-related matters, an area that continues to grow in importance within the community.
