How was the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community established in Uganda?
Just like other East African countries, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at was brought in Uganda by the companions (Sahabah) of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Peace be upon him) - the Promised Messiah, in 1914 almost at the end of the First or the beginning of the Second Caliphate of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. According to history, it is stated that it was Dr Ahmad-Ddiin Sahib, Dr Fazl-u-Diin Sahib and Dr La' lu-Diin Sahib who were the companions of the Promised Messiah (Peace be upon him) brought the teachings of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to Uganda. This is how people came to learn and embrace this community in Uganda. (History of Ahmadiyya, Volume 6, P. 263, Footnote).
Hadhrat Dr. Fazl-u-Diin Sahib was the first Ahmadiyya Muslim preacher, who came to Uganda in 1916 and used to work as a veterinary officer in the then British government. He died and was buried in Uganda. His grave was first established in Kampala. (AI-Fazt 3/August/ 1960)
(His grave was among the graves of Kolo/o cemetery later transferred to the Bahishti Maqbarah, Kamugabo - Rabwah in Kiboga district in 2020).
Hadhrat Dr. Fazl-u-Diin Sahib tried to establish the Ahmadiyya Muslim Council. His wife too, had a lot of interest preaching the message. She therefore used to preach the message to her fellow women and she normally used to read to them the book known as "The Philosophy of the teachings of Islam". {Review of religions, Volume 18, Issue Number 11, P. 398).
In 1929, the first great event was held in the early days of his preaching in Kampala and this was Jalsa Seerat-un-Nabi, an event which portrays the biography of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him}. In this occasion, even the non-Muslims took part and listened to the speeches about the life biography of the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him}. This is how people came to know the int roduction of the Holy founder of Islam for the first time in detail. {AIFazt 16/July/1929).
In the like manner, in 1930, Revered Sanaullah Sahib, Respect ed AbdulHayy Sahib, Revered Chaudhary Muhammad Umar Hayat Sahib and Respected Nasrullah Khan Sahib and other sincere preachers were always attached to the International headquarters and used to report their preaching activities and file up their payments to the headquarters. (Al-Faz/, 31/January/1930}. Apart from them, there were even some members who used to serve under the auspices of the Jama'at and participated in preaching the word of God. Among them were Respected Dr. Badruddiin Sahib, Respected Bhai Hussain Khokhar Sahib and Respected Dr Shahnawaz Sahib who are worth mentioning. (Al-Faz/, 3/August/1960}.
Apart from that, when Sheikh Sahib introduced the institution of Tahrike- Jadid to the people of Kampala, they pledged to pay 5041 in promise.
First Ahmadi Muslim Missionary in Uganda
Between 1896 and 1934, the companions of Hadhat Imam Mahdi (a.s} and his post companions used to come to East Africa and participate in preaching Islam and fulfilled his mission which increased the chances of spreading lslam-e-Ahmadiyya as well as strong opposition against it.
Therefore, when non-Ahmadi Muslims witnessed the progress of Ahmadiyya, and having seen its daily progress as well as its growing number of followers and having seen that t hey could not contain its competition, they therefore decided to make arrangements for improvising many missionaries from the Islam protection foundation known as Anjuman Himayat-e-lslam from the Indian Subcontinent.
They therefore decided to call for Maulvi Lal Hussain Akhtar who was a bitter enemy and used to use foul language against the Jama'at to come to East Africa. This also prompted the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of East Africa to contact the Preaching and messaging department of Qadian and pleaded to them that they must send any official Ahmadi missionary within a period of at least six months. The East African Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also accepted to take the responsibility of his expenditure.
Therefore, in response to their call, the Second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (May Allah be pleased with him} decided to send Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad as an official Ahmadi Muslim missionary from Qadian on 8/November/1934 and reached Nairobi, East African region in November of the same year. In this manner, Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad, got the honour of becoming the first regular official missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in East Africa. While he was still in Nairobi, Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad encountered Maulvi Lal Hussain Akhtar in a great religious debate in which the Maulvi was totally defeated and decided to leave Nairobi and ran to Kampala where he continued his mission of preaching against Ahmadiyya.
In the course of following him, Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad also decided to go to Kampala and challenged him for another religious debate but due to the defeat which he got during the Nairobi religious debate, he refused to accept the conditions of the Kampala religious debate and decided to avoid it wholesomely. While in Uganda, Revered Dr. Badru-Ddiin, Dr Fazlu-Ddiin, Br. Abdul-Hayy, Mr. Malik Nasrullah, Mr. Shaikh Sahib used to live together. (Al-Faz/: 13/August/1935}.
First Special Ahmadi Muslim missionary sent to Uganda
The first specific Ahmadi Muslim missionary sent to Uganda was Respected Maulana Nurul-Haqq Anwar. He started his journey from Qadian on 22/0ctober/1945 by train to Bombay. He then continued his journey from there by ship to Kenya in East Africa and reached Uganda by train. (Al-Faz/: 23/0ctober/1945 and the Sun rise published in November~ 1945).
After a period of about four years of victorious preaching towards the word of Allah, he returned to Rabwah from Uganda in April of 1951. While in Uganda, he used to go to farthest areas of the country and tried to preach Islam to people of every category of which among them were religious scholars, political leaders, school teachers, university lecturers, students, ministers, and ambassadors of different countries, prisoners in prisons, doctors and patients in hospitals after which Allah the Almighty blessed his preaching efforts that tenths of people embraced Jama'at Ahmadiyya of which among them was Revered Sheikh Al-Hajj Ibrahim Ssenfuma who had a revered position in Islam and used to lecture at the Shia Muslim mosque in Jinja as an Imam before embracing Islam Ahmadiyyat. (Al-Faz/: 3/August/1960).
First local Ahmadi Muslim in Uganda
The first local Ahmadi-Muslim in Uganda according to the records, was Mr Kizito Zakariyya Bulwadda whose father was Mr Abdul-Aziiz Bulwadda who was among the first early Muslims in Uganda and who was a special interpreter for the then British government in Uganda though he was not able to embrace the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Nevertheless, when Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad came to Uganda in 1935, among those respected elders and religious scholars who were introduced to him by Respected Dr. Fazlu-Ddin, was the father of Mr. Kizito Zakariyya Bulwadda who was convinced by the religious dialogue of Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad and later decided to dedicate his son Zakariyya to him to be under his care for the sake of serving the religion despite the fact that there was a staunch opposition of which he did not care about. Respected Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad decided to go with Mr. Zakariyya to Nairobi and gave him special attention in religious education and disciplines. That is how Mr. Zakariyya tried to fulfill the expectations of his father. He therefore accepted Ahmadiyyat in 1940. (Al-Faz/, 2/January/1958).
When Mr. Zakariyya left Nairobi and went back to Uganda, the opponents tried to divert him but by the grace of Allah, he remained steadfast on the Ahmadiyyat. There was a Buganda Prince known as Omulangira Badru Kakungulu who was the head of Muslims in Uganda and leader of social workers in the Buganda Kingdom tried a lot to convince him to leave Ahmadiyyat and even presented to him a high profile position in the then government. But Mr. Zakariyya refused and said that I/I cannot leave Ahmadiyyat for the sake of high profile position".
Special services to the Buganda kingdom and Uganda rendered by Al- Hajj Sheikh Zakariyya Kizito Bulwadda
It was so surprising that due to Allah's decree, in 1968 when the elections were held, Mr. Zakariyya contested with 13 aspirants who were Christians in his area. By the grace of Allah, he got the highest votes and was elected to be a member of the Buganda province. Prince Badru Kakungulu who was the head of Muslims at that time, called all the Muslim members and introduced Mr. Zakariyya and said that the most successful area is that which elected the most learned personality who contested with Christians and defeated them though there are many Christians over there.
When Respected Sheikh Zakariyya translated the Holy Qur'an into Luganda language, Respected Sheikh Badru opposed this service that the Holy Qur'an cannot be translated. At that time, Respected Sheikh Zakariyya wrote a certain pamphlet in reply to this objection and explained the truthfulness of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
In 1945, Respected Sheikh Zakariyya visited Qadian and had a special meeting with the Second Caliph of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and also got the opportunity of receiving warm prayers from the Caliph.
The Sheikh was also appointed as one of the members of the central consultative body of the East African Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He also got the opportunity to be appointed as one of the members of the Holy Qur'an translation board in to Luganda language.
He was also appointed as the Amir of Uganda for the first time from 1977 to 1979, and he was appointed for the second time in 1986. Not only that, but he was also appointed as the national president of the community from 1980 to 1986. In the same manner, apart from rendering services to the nation, he also participated in the community activities and rendered a great service towards it.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques in Uganda (134):
KAMPALA REGION
1. Mahmood Mosque, P.O Box 98, Kampala - Uganda, at the National headquarters, Plot 66 Bomba Road, Wandegeya, Kampala.
2. Bulenga regional Mosque, Wakiso District
3. Masjid Mubarak, Ndejje - District
4. Luwafu Mosque
5. Seeta Mosque
6. Nyanja Mosque
7. Kawuku Mosque
8. Kagala Mosque
MUKONO REGION
l. Mukono regional Mosque, Mbikko
2. Bujowali Mosque
3. Buloba Mosque
4. Malindi Mosque
5. Wakisi Mosque
6. Nakirubi Mosque
7. Kafumba Mosque
8. Nawansama Mosque
9. Bugolo Mosque
10. Kandaha Mosque
11. Buvunya Mosque
12. Kitega Mosque
13. Buikwe Mosque
14. Nakibole Mosque
JINJA REGION
1. Masjid Aqsa at the main headquarters of Jinja Region
2. Mutai Mosque
3. Butamiira Mosque
4. Buwenge Mosque
5. Buwuma Mosque
6. Namagera Mosque
7. Buwenda Mosque
8. Nakanyonyi Mosque
9. Nakanyonyi Mosque, Kizinga
KYANKWANZI REGION
l. Kyankwanzi regional Mosque, Bukwiri
2. Kiteredde Mosque
3. Kiryannongo Mosque
4. Wandegeya Mosque
5. Ntunda Mosque
6. Kibooto Mosque
7. Kiryabuhurura Mosque
8. Birembo Mosque
BUDUDA REGION
l. Bududa regional Mosque, Bumukonya
2. Bunamasongo Mosque
3. Bunyinza Mosque
4. Namikhoma Mosque
5. Bumboi Mosque
MBARARA REGION
1. Mbarara regional Mosque, Kakoba
2. Kyigabagaba Mosque
3. Masha Mosque
4. Nakivale Refugee Camp Mosque
KIBOGA REGION
1. Kiboga regional Mosque, Bukomero
2. Rabwah Jama'at Mosque
3. Ddwaniro Mosque
KIBAALE REGION
1. Kibaale regional Mosque
2. Kagongero Mosque
3. Mikonyi Mosque
4. Kayoga Mosque
5. Kizinga Mosque
6. Rwabaganda Mosque
7. Mpikye Mosque
8. Rwakishaayaaya Mosque
9. Kiyonza Mosque
MA YUGE REGION
1. Mayuge regional Mosque, Busu
2. Wante Mosque
3. Lugolole Mosque
4. Bukoli Mosque
5. Bukoba Mosque
6. Bulubudhe Mosque
IGANGA REGION
1. lganga regional Mosque, P.O Box 82, lganga
2. Buwooya Mosque
3. Busoola Mosque
4. Mpiita Mosque
5. Nawandala Mosque
BUDIOPE REGION
1. Buwangala regional Mosque
2. Namawa Mosque
3. Bukamba Mosque
4. Muzaffar Mosque, lgalaaza.
5. Kabukye Mosque
6. Kituukiro Mosque
7. Ndulya Mosque
8. Kalanga Mosque
9. Kasuleta Mosque
FORTPORTAL REGION
1. Fortportal regional Mosque, Kabende
2. Bulyambuzi Mosque
KAMWENGE REGION
1. Kamwenge regional Mosque, Kayinja
2. Rwetuuma Mosque
3. Nyamukoijo Mosque
4. Rubona Mosque
MASAKA REGION
1. Masaka regional Mosque, Plot 30 Bwala Hill, Masaka.
2. Kyanjale Mosque
3. Bwami Mosque
4. Kalongo Mosque
5. Lukerere Mosque
KADAMA REGION
1. Kadama regional Mosque, Budaka District.
2. Kibuku Mosque
3. Kayoga Mosque
4. Katekwana Mosque
5. Kabongongoi Mosque
6. Nansanga Mosque
7. Nambale Mosque
8. Mpolyabigere Mosque
9. Budusu Mosque
10. Nandere Mosque
11. Namehere Mosque
BUGIRI REGION
1. Bugiri regional Mosque
2. Kirongo Mosque
3. lmuli Mosque
4. Kitumba Mosque
5. Lugunja Mosque
6. Busia Mosque
7. Nakyere Mosque
8. Nabweyo Mosque Mosque
9. Dabani Mosque
10. Nakivamba Mosque
MBALE REGION
1. Mbale regional Mosque, Kumi Road - Mbale.
2. Busamaga Mosque
3. Bukikali Mosque
4. Bumadanda Mosque
5. Nanyuza Mosque
6. Bumayamba Mosque
7. Bumadibira Mosque
8. Buwasa Mosque
9. Sonoli Mosque
10. Bunambasi Mosque
KAMULI REGION
1. Kamuli regional Mosque, Kasambira
2. Budwiga Mosque
3. Bukyonza Mosque
4. Nawandio Mosque
5. Bukasa Mosque
6. Kiyunga Mosque
LUUKA REGION
1. Luuka regional Mosque, Mawundo
2. Magamaga Mosque
3. Lwino Mosque
4. Nalinaibi Mosque
5. Kigaya Mosque
6. Busiiro Mosque
Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission Houses in Uganda (39):
KAMPALA REGION
1. Mahmood National Mission house, P.O Box 98, Wandegeya Kampala, Uganda. Plot 66 Bombo Road, Wandegeya, Kampala - Uganda.
2. Seeta Mission house
3. Bulenge regional Mission house, Wakiso District.
4. Abogomola Mission house, Kwania District.
MUKONO REGION
1. Mukono regional Mission house, Mbikko
2. Buvunya Mission house
3. Bugolo Mission house
4. Nakirubi Mission house
JINJA REGION
1. Jinja regional Mission house, Gokhale Road East, Jinja
2. Buwenge Mission house
3. Namagera Mission house
KYANKWANZI REGION
1. Ntunda Mission house
BUDUDA REGION
No mission house.
MBARARA REGION
1. Mbarara regional Mission house, Kakoba
2. Masha Mission house
3. Kyigabagaba Mission house
KIBOGA REGION
1. Rabwah Mission house, Kamugabo - Kiboga District.
2. Ddwaniro Mission house
KIBAALE REGION
1. Kibaale regional Misson house
2. Rwabaganda Mission house
MAYUGE REGION
1. Mayuge regional Mission house, Busu
IGANGA REGION
1. lganga regional Mission house, Nakavule. P.O Box 82, lganga
2. Nawandala Mission house
BUDIOPE REGION
1. Buyende regional Mission house, Buwangala.
FORTPORTAL REGION
1. FortPortal regional Mission house, Kabende
KAMWENGE REGION
1. Kamwenge regional Mission house, Kayinja
MASAKA REGION
1. Masaka regional Mission house, Plot 30 Bwala Hill Masaka.
2. Kalongo Mission house
KADAMA REGION
1. Kadama regional Mission house, Kadama, Budaka District.
2. Budusu Mission house
BUGIRI REGION
1. Bugiri regional Mission house, Bugiri Central.
2. Nakyere Mission house
3. Busia Mission house
MBALE REGION
1. Mbale regional Mission house, Kumi Road, Mbale
2. Bunambasi Mission house
KAMULI REGION
1. Kamuli regional Mission house, Kasambira
2. Nawandio Mission house
3. Kiyunga Mission house
LUUKA REGION
1. Luuka regional Mission house, Mawundo
2. Busiiro Mission house
National Headquaters:
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association,
Headquarters,
Plot 66 Bombo Road,
Wandegeya, Kampala- Uganda.
P.o Box 98, Kampala - Uganda.
