UMSC Welcomes Delegation of South Sudanese Muslim Leaders
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has received a six-member delegation of Muslim leaders led by Honorable Sheikh Al Noor Kur Jok, the Director General of Mahad-High Islamic Theological Institutions in South Sudan. The delegation includes Mr. Khalid Juma, Secretary for Endowment; Gismallah Abdallah Rayhan, Director for Administration; Ibrahim Awol Nyekir, Secretary for External Relations at the South Sudan Islamic Council (SSIC) and Mr. Usama Badi, Secretary for Education; and Kual Jok Kual. They are here for 3 days working visit.
The team jetted into the country Wednesday afternoon via Entebbe International Airport. They were warmly received by Sheikh Imran Ssali, the Secretary for Religious Affairs, and other UMSC Officials, including Mufti’s Special Envoys to South Sudan, HE Sheikh Twaha Uthuman Musa, HE Yusuf Mpoza, from the United Kingdom (UK), and Haj Muhammad Tsapwe, the Head of Security.
After their arrival at the airport, the guests were escorted to the UMSC Headquarters, where they received an official welcome from His Eminence Sheikh Abdallah Ibrahim Ssemambo Tamusuza, the Deputy Mufti, representing His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda. High-ranking UMSC officials, including His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the 2nd Deputy Mufti, Prof Dr. Muhammadi Lubega, the National Chairperson, Honorable Counsel Haj Muhammad Ali Aluma, the UMSC Secretary-General, and various department heads, were present for the reception.
Subsequently, both parties engaged in a productive and cordial discussion during a meeting held in the Deputy Mufti’s Office. In his welcoming remarks, Sheikh Ssemambo highlighted the significance of the cooperation between the two brotherly organizations. Professor Muhammadi Lubega, on his part, emphasized the implementation of the mutual understanding that had been reached between the two Islamic Councils two years ago.
The areas of focus include the promotion of Islamic Propagation, developments in the education sector, encompassing both theology and secular education, training of personnel, social transformation projects, endowment for revenue enhancement, resource mobilization, youth and women programs, and establishing communication channels to engage with communities. Investment opportunities in both countries were also discussed.
During their speech, the guests expressed their deep appreciation for the warm hospitality they had received. They placed particular emphasis on the field of education, which is their primary responsibility. They expressed a pressing need for significant changes, particularly in terms of financial aid and sponsorship, infrastructure development for schools and institutions, curriculum enhancements, access to learning materials, and the administration and management of educational programs. Additionally, they expressed a strong interest in establishing links between educational institutions in South Sudan and Uganda. Sheikh Kur Jok, the head of the delegation, remarked, “Your institutions have a significant regional impact in terms of their outputs. Therefore, we are here to share experiences and learn from you.” The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to selected schools in different areas, beginning with Jinja and Iganga districts.