Uganda’s Muslim community is mourning the death of veteran Islamic scholar, preacher and community leader Sheikh Abdul Qadir Mbogo, who passed away at the age of 96 after dedicating more than seven decades of his life to the service of Islam and the nation.
The news of his passing was announced on Friday evening by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, who paid tribute to Sheikh Mbogo’s lifelong contribution to Uganda and the Muslim faith.
“With humble acceptance of God’s Will and in consultation with the family of the deceased, I announce the death of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Mbogo (1930–2026). We condole with his family and the Muslim Community and pay tribute to him for his dedicated service to Uganda and Islam since the days of the legendary Prince Nuhu Mbogo,” Mao wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) later confirmed the death and joined Muslims across the country in mourning one of Uganda’s most respected religious leaders.
In a condolence message, the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, described Sheikh Mbogo as a devoted servant of Islam whose life was defined by preaching, guidance and commitment to the teachings of the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
“Sheikh Mbogo has served the Muslim community wholeheartedly with total dedication and in the same way has left an outstanding legacy as a very principled and loyal person, as well as one of the founding members of the Democratic Party (DP), Uganda’s oldest political party,” Mufti Mubaje said.
Born on March 13, 1930, in Ntinda, Kampala, to the late Muslim Kyeswa, Sheikh Mbogo began studying Islamic knowledge at an early age before pursuing further religious studies in Yemen. Upon his return to Uganda in 1951, he embarked on a journey of religious service that would span more than 70 years.
He first served as Imam of Abdul-Azziz Bulwadda Mosque in Kampala before rising through the ranks to become Kampala District Kadhi. From 1972 until his retirement a decade ago, he served as Kadhi of Kampala Muslim District and later became the main preacher at the UMSC National Mosque in Old Kampala.
Throughout his long career, Sheikh Mbogo witnessed and participated in many of the defining moments in Uganda’s Muslim history. He worked alongside several generations of Muslim leaders, including during the era of Prince Badru Kakungulu, and played a key role in the growth and development of the Kibuli Muslim establishment.
Among his most notable achievements was his contribution to the establishment of Kibuli Hospital. He is widely credited among the Muslim leaders who mobilized communities across Uganda to support the construction of the hospital in the early 1980s. He earned widespread admiration for his transparency, accountability and integrity in managing resources during the project.
Beyond religious leadership, Sheikh Mbogo contributed significantly to preserving Uganda’s Islamic heritage. Through his book, Ebyafaayo by’Obusiraamu (History of Islam), he documented important events, personalities and experiences that shaped the Muslim community over several decades.
Many regarded him as a living archive of Uganda’s Islamic history, having personally witnessed and participated in major developments from the colonial era to modern-day Uganda.
Paying further tribute, Mufti Mubaje described the late cleric as a pious Muslim whose life reflected the values he preached.
“He was soft-spoken, humble, wise, and a person who practised and mirrored the divine messages he preached from the Holy Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad throughout his decades of service,” the Mufti said.
The Mufti offered prayers for Allah’s mercy upon the deceased and directed the UMSC Secretary for Religious Affairs to organize special funeral prayers at the National Mosque in Old Kampala shortly after the Thuhur congregational prayers. He also called upon Muslims to attend in large numbers to pay their final respects.
In addition, Mufti Mubaje prayed for Sheikh Mbogo’s family, urging them to remain united, patient and steadfast during the difficult period of mourning.
According to funeral arrangements released by the family, Sheikh Mbogo will be laid to rest at Kiwanga in Namamve on Saturday at 4:00 pm.
His death marks the end of an era for Uganda’s Muslim community. Remembered for his humility, wisdom, integrity, commitment to Islamic education and promotion of unity, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Mbogo leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Muslims in Uganda and beyond.
