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The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. William W. Popp has paid a courtesy visit to His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda in his at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Old Kampala.
Ambassador Popp, accompanied by two senior staff members from the U.S. Embassy, informed the Mufti that the purpose of his visit on Tuesday was to familiarize himself with the faith communities, with a particular aim of strengthening the U.S.-Uganda relations that have existed for over sixty years. Additionally, Ambassador Popp shared a brief report on various U.S.-supported activities that have had a significant impact on communities, particularly in areas such as healthcare access, education, and economic inclusion.
In his welcoming remarks, Mufti Mubaje provided a brief history of how the Islamic faith was introduced to present-day Uganda by Arab and Swahili merchants. He also shared the history of the formation and operations of the UMSC since its inception in 1972. Mufti Mubaje highlighted how faith communities came together to form the Interreligious Council of Uganda (IRCU), which has since fostered good working relationships among citizens of different religious denominations. “We have successfully managed to reach out to various stakeholders, including the government, politicians, security forces, and development partners,” he said.
Both sides engaged in discussions on a wide range of development topics and agreed to have future engagements. Present at the meeting were Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi, the UMSC Secretary General; his deputy in charge of Planning and Development, Hon. Arinda Abdu-Razaaq;Â Kagiiko Imam Shaffi, Secretary for Social Services and Hon. Sophie Safina Kenyangi, National chairperson Muslim Women Council.
Zziwa Ashiraf
UMSC Spokesperson.