The Muslim Students’ Association of Uganda (MSAU)’s six-decade journey
By Natanda Habibah Zam Zam
In classrooms across Uganda, young Muslim students often face a difficult choice: conform to educational norms or remain true to their faith. From prayer restrictions to forced removal of religious attire, these challenges have persisted for decades.
But since 1962, one organization has stood as a bulwark against these pressures—the Muslim Students’ Association of Uganda (MSAU).
The story begins at King’s College Buddo, where a group of visionary students led by Hajji Serugo Lugo recognized an urgent need. In 1962, they established the Uganda Muslim Students’ Association (UMSA), creating Uganda’s first unified platform to advocate for Muslim students’ rights and spiritual development.
The early years were turbulent:
Today, MSAU operates through a three-tier system:
The constitution has evolved through three landmark revisions (1995, 2011, 2022), most recently updated at Mbogo High School to address contemporary challenges.
MSAU’s mission extends beyond defending rights to include provision of scholarships and tutoring programs, Quran competitions attracting thousands annually, inter-school Islamic caravans fostering solidarity and guidance programs preparing students for the workforce. MSAU’s annual Quran competition has produced 7 international recitation champions since 2010.
As MSAU enters its seventh decade, its vision remains clear: ensuring every Muslim student can pursue education without compromising their beliefs. With plans to expand career mentorship programs and establish a national Muslim students’ resource center, the association continues rewriting Uganda’s educational narrative.
Despite progress, obstacles remain and 43% of Muslim students report prayer space shortagesaccording to a 2023 survey, while Hijab restrictions persist in 22% of secondary schools.
