Islam in Uganda: The Muslim Minority, Nationalism & Political Power

Joseph Kasule examines the historical, political, religious, and social dynamics of Muslim minority status in Uganda, challenging prevalent scholarship that has homogenized Muslims' political identity. He discusses the colonial and postcolonial history of the Muslim minority and questions of Muslim identity within a non-Muslim state. The book explores contrasting urban-based Muslim organizations and rural expressions of Islam, tension between representative claims of Muslim leaderships, and the rise of new reform groups.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 23 July 2024
Publisher: James Currey

Muslim minority status in Uganda has been a complex and multifaceted issue throughout history, encompassing political, religious, and social dynamics. In recent years, there have been several incidents of violence against Muslim clerics in Uganda, with no consensus on who is responsible. Joseph Kasule's book seeks to explain this by examining the colonial and postcolonial history of the Muslim minority and questions of Muslim identity within a non-Muslim state. Kasule challenges prevalent scholarship that has homogenized Muslims' political identity, demonstrating that Muslim responses to power have been varied and multiple.

The book begins with the pre-colonial political community in Buganda, where Muteesa I attempted to Islamize the country using Islam as a centralizing ideology. However, the political status of Islam and Muslims in Uganda was defined under successive regimes, with Muteesa I's Islamization faltering when Christianity entered Buganda in the latter half of the 19th century. This created a new type of political project that defined the Muslim question as one of representation, and Kasule discusses how this laid the foundation for a politics of Muslim containment within a predominantly Christian power.

Kasule examines contrasting urban-based Muslim organizations and rural expressions of Islam, tension between representative claims of Muslim leaderships within the demand for Muslim autonomy, and the rise of new reform groups. As these splits turned violent, new Muslim publics emerged around opposing centres of Muslim power which sought different resolutions to their minority situation.

East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda) has been a region of significant Muslim minority presence, and the book explores the historical, political, religious, and social dynamics of Muslim minority status in these countries. It highlights the challenges faced by Muslim minorities in these countries, including discrimination, marginalization, and violence.

The book also explores the role of religion in shaping Muslim minority status in Uganda. It discusses the different religious traditions within Islam, including Sufism, Wahhabism, and Salafism, and how these traditions have influenced Muslim identity and politics. It also examines the role of religious leaders in shaping Muslim minority status, including the influence of Islamic scholars and preachers.

In conclusion, Joseph Kasule's book is a valuable contribution to the study of Muslim minority status in Uganda and East Africa. It provides a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the historical, political, religious, and social dynamics of Muslim minority status, and highlights the challenges faced by Muslim minorities in these countries. It also provides valuable insights into the role of religion in shaping Muslim minority status and the potential for positive change.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847014030