Former Supreme Mufti Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndirangwa passed away on Friday evening at the age of 63.
Sheikh Ndirangwa resigned from his position as Supreme Mufti in April 2021, citing internal disagreements within the Kibuli Muslim faction.
Since his resignation, he has largely kept a low profile, focusing on personal and community matters. His successor, Sheikh Muhammad Galabuzi, was appointed in November 2021.
Silman Ndirangwa was born on October 9, 1962, to Hajji Muhammad Kasule (RIP) and Hajjat Ajiri Nakawungu of Kirayangoma, Kisekka sub-county, in present-day Lwengo district.
Kasule went to Madarasat Noor Kirayangoma primary school before moving on to Sseke primary school near Kinoni township in Lwengo, where he sat for his Primary Leaving Examinations.
In 1974, he joined Bilal Islamic Institute for his O-levels and graduated with an Idaad certificate with which he enrolled at Dar-al-hadith Makkiyah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for his equivalent of the A-levels.
In 1985, Ndirangwa enrolled at the Faculty of Da’awah studies at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, graduating with a degree in Da’awah (propagation of Islam) in 1989.
After his graduation, Ndirangwa returned to Uganda and taught at Buziga Islamic Theological Institute, Masaka Islamic Centre, Kabowa Hidaayat primary school.
In 1992, he was appointed the Imaam of Kibuli mosque, a position that cast him in the limelight. He also cut a niche as a preacher on Sanyu FM, Radio Simba and CBS FM.
By the 2000 Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) elections that led to the election of Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje as Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ndirangwa passed unopposed to become a representative of the Kibuli Twaale (County) to the Kampala Muslim district council.
He has also been the director of Swafah & Mar’wa Hijja & Umrah travel services, an agency that takes Muslims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.