The Muslim community is mourning the passing of former Supreme Mufti Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndirangwa, who died on Friday evening at Mengo Hospital in Kampala after a prolonged illness.
He was 62.
Family members confirmed his death at around 7:30pm, ending hours of speculation that followed premature reports on social media earlier in the day.
A formal statement from the family confirmed the cleric’s passing, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the country.
Born on October 9, 1962, in Kirayangoma, Kisekka Sub-county (present-day Lwengo District), Sheikh Ndirangwa devoted his life to Islamic scholarship and leadership.
He began his Qur’anic studies at Madarasat Noor Kirayangoma before joining Bilal Islamic Institute for secondary education.
He later travelled to Saudi Arabia, where he studied at Dar-al-Hadith Makkiyah in Mecca and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Da‘awah (Islamic propagation) from the Islamic University of Madinah in 1989.
Upon his return to Uganda, Ndirangwa became deeply involved in community leadership and Islamic teaching.
In 1992, he was appointed Imam of Kibuli Mosque, one of Uganda’s most prominent Islamic institutions. His eloquent sermons and principled voice quickly made him a national figure.
By 2000, he had been named Kampala District Kadhi, representing Kibuli in the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), and became an influential voice in Uganda’s diverse Muslim leadership—though he would later fall out with the Old Kampala-based establishment.
In April 2015, following the death of Supreme Mufti Sheikh Zubair Kayongo, Ndirangwa was elevated to the position of Supreme Mufti under the Kibuli-based faction, which had broken away from UMSC over ideological and administrative disagreements.
As Supreme Mufti, he championed unity, religious education, Islamic finance, and moral reform.
He also publicly opposed corruption, moral decay, and sectarianism within the faith.
On April 1, 2021, Sheikh Ndirangwa made headlines when he resigned during a live broadcast on a national television, citing persistent internal wrangles within the Kibuli-based leadership.
“I have resigned as the Supreme Mufti of Uganda. I have taken the decision for the good of Islam,” he said in an emotional address.
He was later succeeded in November 2021 by Sheikh Muhammad Galabuzi.
After stepping down, Sheikh Ndirangwa withdrew from public religious leadership but remained active in da‘awah and chaired the Association of Imams in the central region.
Though his presence grew quieter, he continued to mentor younger leaders and remained a highly respected figure in religious circles.
According to family members, he had been in and out of Mengo Hospital over the past month as his health deteriorated.
News of his passing triggered a flood of tributes from across the religious and political spectrum.
Religious leaders, government officials, and members of the public took to social media to remember him as a man of wisdom, humility, and unwavering faith.
Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndirangwa leaves behind a powerful legacy of spiritual leadership, moral clarity, and scholarly excellence. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.