Makerere University Appoints Sheikh Katamba as New Imam

What the report says

Makerere University has named Sheikh Abdul-Karim Abdallah Katamba as its new Imam, with the appointment taking effect on October 1, 2026. According to Nile Post, the decision followed a competitive selection process conducted with input from the university and the Office of the Mufti of Uganda. The appointment was later confirmed in a letter dated October 5, 2026, from the university’s Directorate of Human Resources.

The report says Katamba emerged from a pool of three Muslim clerics nominated by the Office of the Mufti after Makerere requested candidates with master’s-level training in Islamic theology and related qualifications. The nominees were interviewed and assessed before Katamba was chosen. Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson Haj Zziwa Ashiraf described the process as one that involved nomination, assessment and interviews.

Nile Post says Katamba brings more than 20 years of experience in Islamic scholarship, teaching, educational administration and religious leadership. His background includes study in Uganda and Saudi Arabia, as well as prior teaching and leadership roles at institutions such as the Islamic University in Uganda, Bugembe Islamic Institute and Shuhada Secondary School. He has also served in UMSC roles, including head of the Halal Department and regional assistant to the Mufti for Ankole-Kigezi.

As Imam, Katamba is expected to provide spiritual guidance to Makerere’s Muslim community and oversee Islamic religious activities on campus. The appointment highlights continued cooperation between the university and Uganda’s Muslim leadership in selecting religious leaders for a major public institution.