WARR, ZOMBO DISTRICT — Sheikh Dr. Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Grand Mufti of Uganda, has officially inaugurated the newly established Zombo Islamic Region, granting the Muslim community in the West Nile sub-region its own independent administrative structure.
The historic inauguration ceremony took place on Friday, October 2, 2026, in the town of Warr, located in Zombo District near Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The momentous occasion was attended by top leadership of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), including Second Deputy Mufti Sheikh Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, Deputy Secretary-General for Finance and Administration Wakil Hajj Muhammad Ali Aluma, and several other regional and national Islamic scholars.
During the event, Wakil Haddad Salim, the UMSC Independent Electoral Commissioner for the West Nile region, formally announced the establishment of the Zombo Islamic Region in accordance with the UMSC constitution. Alongside this administrative expansion, Sheikh Abdulaziz Qasim Al-Kouri was appointed as the district’s first Sharia judge.
Addressing the community, the newly appointed Sharia judge emphasised the significance of the milestone. “We have attained an administrative identity that we have long awaited. Therefore, we must now build an institution worthy of this identity,” Sheikh Abdulaziz stated, urging the community to cooperate in strengthening the newly formed region.
In a keynote address delivered in Swahili, Grand Mufti Sheikh Dr. Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje expressed profound gratitude to the Muslims and residents of Zombo for their overwhelming reception. Reflecting on the trajectory of the UMSC, the Mufti highlighted the successful efforts undertaken to strengthen the institution and restore its standing since he assumed office.
The Grand Mufti also praised the Ugandan government, local leaders, and the people of Zombo for fostering an environment of peaceful coexistence. He commended the enduring interfaith cooperation in the region, noting that such unity is vital for the social and spiritual development of the community.
The UMSC delegation, joined by senior army officer General Dick Olum and other government officials, received a warm welcome from a large gathering of local Muslims and followers of other faiths upon their arrival on Thursday evening, marking a significant step forward for Islamic administration in the West Nile sub-region.
Reference: ABNA24