News and Events

Islamic University in Uganda Holds 38th Annual Ramadan Convention.

• 18th March, 2025 11:18pm

The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) successfully concluded its 38th Annual Ramadan Convention at the university’s main campus in Mbale.

The three day event, held from March 13th to March 15th, 2025, brought together scholars, students, and community members to discuss Islamic solutions to contemporary socio-economic challenges.

The convention attracted a diverse group of participants. On the first day, corporate professionals and members of the working class attended discussions focused on economic and professional growth within an Islamic framework. The second day, Friday, March 14th, saw participation from local community members, including both men and women, engaging in discussions and reaching various resolutions on pressing socio-economic and spiritual matters. The final day featured high school students guided through crucial socio-economic and spiritual discussions.

Dr. Abdul Swamad Gyagenda, a lecturer in the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language and part of the organizing team of the event, highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, Islamic Solutions to the Contemporary Socio-Economic Challenges. “In the world we live in today, communities face numerous socio-economic challenges. As Muslims, this Ramadan, we found it imperative to reflect on how we can transform ourselves socially, economically, and most importantly, spiritually,” Dr. Gyagenda stated.

Dr. Gyagenda emphasized the growing impact of the convention, noting the increased number of participants compared to previous years. “The attendance was overwhelming. On the first day, we had approximately 270 participants, the second day saw around 150, and today, the final day, we had 100 attendees. The objective of this year’s convention was beyond successful,” he noted.

The presentations during the event centered on Islamic principles as solutions to socio-economic challenges. Topics such as zakah (almsgiving), the promotion of marriage from a sociological perspective, charity (sadaqah), and other critical aspects of Islamic teachings were extensively discussed.

Looking ahead, the organizing team plans to elevate the convention’s impact. With a plan to introduce a more rigorous academic aspect by inviting intellectuals to submit research papers on sub-themes related to the main theme. The papers will be peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language as shared by Dr Abdul Swamad.

The team also envisions expanding the scope of participation to include intellectuals and scholars from East Africa and beyond, with hopes of attracting participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and America in the future.

Dr. Gyagenda extended gratitude to the administration of IUIU under the leadership of Professor Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, as well as the Dawah Liaison and Community Outreach Committee, whose dedication ensured the convention’s success. “We thank Allah for the success of this convention and appreciate the tireless efforts of the organizing team,” he concluded.