UMSC Moves to Revive Zakah Collection to Tackle Rising Poverty

What the report says

The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is trying to revive Zakah collection and distribution as part of a wider effort to support poor and vulnerable Muslims, according to Nile Post. The council says it is focusing on sensitising wealthy Muslims about the religious duty of Zakah and improving coordination with district-level Muslim leaders.

The work is being led by the UMSC Department of Zakah Collections and Distribution, headed by Sheikh Abdu-Barri Muhammad Kaloozi. He told Muslim leaders that weak awareness has affected Zakah giving and that the programme needs to be strengthened because poverty remains widespread in many communities. The council argues that better collection and distribution could make Zakah a more effective support system for people facing economic hardship.

Nile Post reports that the department has already begun engaging leaders across districts, starting with Makindye Muslim District. The first meeting under the annual action plan was a half-day workshop at the Islamic Call University College at UMSC headquarters, where participants discussed problems affecting the system and possible solutions.

The council adopted proposed approaches for implementing the plan and said it will continue meeting Muslim leaders as part of its mid-term strategy. In general, Zakah is one of Islam’s five pillars, and Muslim institutions often use formal collection systems to direct donations to eligible recipients. UMSC’s push reflects concern that rising poverty requires stronger religious and community-based support mechanisms.