Muslims in Uganda call for Islam-friendly laws

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Muslim leaders in Uganda urged lawmakers Wednesday to establish laws that conform with Islamic principles.

The call was made by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council's leadership while meeting with lawmakers on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present their views on the 2021 succession amendment bill.

“The bill under scrutiny does not respect the laws of succession in the holy book, the Quran, which are followed by Muslims,” said Uganda's second Deputy Mufti Sheikh Mohamed Ali Waiswa.

Waiswa said Muslims in Uganda have been all along following the laws of succession in the Quran and the holy teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

“Muslims have been having no problems with sharing the property of the deceased because they have been following the Quranic laws concerning succession,’’ he noted.

Waiswa said they are pushing for the enactment of the Administration of Muslim Personal Law Bill, which will cater for the establishment of Qadhis courts that cater for Muslim marriages, divorce, inheritance and guardianship. He said the committee should push for the establishment of Sharia courts in Uganda as is the case in neighboring countries like Kenya so that all Muslims who become embroiled in misunderstandings can go to those courts to settle them instead of the circuit courts.