Islam in Uganda

According to the 2013 National Census, Islam in Uganda was practised by 13.7 percent of the population.[1] The Pew Research Center in 2014, however, estimated that 11.5 percent of Ugandans were Muslim, compared to 35.2 percent of Tanzanians, 9.7 percent of Kenyans, 6.2 percent of South Sudanese, 2.8 percent of Burundians, and 1.8 percent of Rwandans.[2] The vast majority of Muslims in Uganda are Sunni. Small Shia and Ahmadi minorities are also present.[3]

The Uganda National Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Islam by country
 Islam portal

The Iganga District in the east of Uganda had the highest percentage of Muslims according to a 2009 published report.[4]

19th century

Islam had arrived in Uganda from the north and through inland networks of the East African coastal trade by the mid-nineteenth century. Some Baganda Muslims trace their family's conversion to the period in which Kabaka Mutesa I converted to Islam in the nineteenth century. Islam entered Uganda through the Buganda route in the 1840s and the northern Uganda route through the Turko- Egyptian influences. Kasozi, (1986: 23) gives 1844 as the year when the first Muslim Arab trader; Ahmed bin Ibrahim reached the King's court in Buganda.[5]

20th century onwards

When Idi Amin, a Ugandan Muslim, became president in 1971, his presidency seemed to be a victory for Uganda's Muslim community. Then in 1972, Amin's expulsion of Asians from Uganda reduced the Muslim population significantly. As his administration deteriorated into a brutal and unsuccessful regime, Uganda's Muslims began to distance themselves from those in power.

After Amin's overthrow in 1979, Muslims became the victims of the backlash that was directed primarily against the Kakwa and Nubian ethnic groups who had supported Amin. Yusuf Lule, who served a brief term as president from 1979 to 1980, was also a Muslim (and a Muganda). He was not a skillful politician, but he was successful in reducing the public stigma attached to Islam.

In 1989, President Yoweri Museveni appealed to Uganda's Muslim community to contribute to national reconstruction, and he warned other Ugandans not to discriminate against Muslims. But at the same time, Museveni admonished Ugandans to avoid "sectarian" allegiances, and this warning was directed at the Islamic community as well as other ethnic and religious groups.

The Islamic University in Uganda is one of Uganda's institutes of Islamic teaching. It is located in Mbale in the foothills of Mount Elgon.

2002 census
A rural mosque in Uganda

The 2002 national census recorded that Muslims represented 12.1 percent of the population.[1]:11

Region % Muslim
Central 18.4%[6]
Eastern 17.0%[6]
Northern 8.5%[6]
Western 4.5%[6]
Total 12.1%

Geographical distribution

Yumbe District is the only district with a Muslim-majority (76%). Muslims form a significant minority in the districts of Mayuge (36%) and Iganga (34%).

Region/District
Population
(2002 census)
[7]
Number of Muslims Share of Muslims
Kampala District1,187,795268,78722.6%
Iganga District708,630239,58233.8%
Yumbe District251,758191,91376.2%
Mukono District795,114165,81720.9%
Masaka District770,379164,95021.4%
Wakiso District907,736164,25618.1%
Mbale District717,534132,24718.4%
Arua District833,538123,22914.8%
Mayuge District324,668117,52636.2%
Kamuli District707,242112,17715.9%
Bugiri District412,365101,57124.6%
Jinja District387,249100,25725.9%
Pallisa District520,53294,23118.1%
Luwero District478,49289,23218.6%
Mpigi District407,73987,31421.4%
Kayunga District294,56876,12725.8%
Mubende District689,30574,78110.8%
Tororo District536,73263,38111.8%
Mbarara District1,088,01261,2735.6%
Rakai District470,14451,34810.9%
Moyo District194,73435,56918.3%
Kasese District522,72633,7906.5%
Masindi District459,24431,7536.9%
Bushenyi District731,21731,2934.3%
Sironko District283,05628,96110.2%
Kiboga District229,29727,83912.1%
Sembabule District180,02827,40815.2%
Busia District224,88722,3229.9%
Ntungamo District379,82920,6885.1%
Bundibugyo District209,82018,6018.9%
Nebbi District435,25217,8294.1%
Kabarole District356,70417,6965.0%
Hoima District343,48017,4385.1%
Kapchorwa District190,28216,3248.6%
Kibaale District405,76113,0443.2%
Kyenjojo District377,10911,7543.1%
Kumi District389,59911,6323.0%
Adjumani District202,22311,2735.6%
Kamwenge District263,59510,8654.1%
Lira District740,8939,5661.3%
Nakasongola District127,0489,4287.4%
Soroti District369,6218,5412.3%
Kanungu District204,6405,5642.7%
Rukungiri District275,1015,3391.9%
Kalangala District34,6994,98614.4%
Gulu District475,0714,5971.0%
Apac District683,9873,9990.6%
Kabale District458,1073,7530.8%
Katakwi District298,9003,1311.0%
Kotido District591,8702,3130.4%
Moroto District189,9071,7070.9%
Kisoro District220,2021,6930.8%
Kitgum District282,2701,6170.6%
Pader District326,3201,4630.4%
Nakapiripirit District154,4941,3900.9%
Kaberamaido District131,6279560.7%
Uganda (total)24,433,1322,956,12112.1%
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See also

References
  1. "2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census - Main Report" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  2. "Global Religious Diversity: Appendix 2, Religious Diversity Index Scores and Religious Adherents by Region and Country" (PDF). Pew Research Center. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  3. "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity" (PDF). Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  4. United States Department of State (26 October 2009). "Uganda". International Religious Freedom Report 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  5. Kasozi, A.B.K., 1994. Social Origins of Violence in Uganda, 1964-1985
  6. "2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census - Population Composition (Household Composition, Religious and Ethnic Composition and Marriage)" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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