Court Dismisses Petition Against Sheikh Shaban’s Re-election

The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an application challenging the re-election of His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje as the Mufti of Uganda, citing failure by the applicants to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

In his ruling, Justice Benard Namanya emphasized that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Constitution provides an internal framework for resolving disputes through the Muslim Arbitration and Conciliation Council (MAC), established under Article 28. He noted that the applicants should have pursued this avenue before seeking judicial intervention.

“The applicants were improperly before the court,” the judge ruled, dismissing the application in its entirety. To promote unity and reconciliation within the Muslim community, Justice Namanya ordered each party to bear its own legal costs.

The decision reaffirms Sheikh Mubaje’s leadership as Mufti of Uganda—a position he has held since 2001. Under the recently amended UMSC Constitution, he is eligible to continue serving until the age of 75.