Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) : The Pioneers

Abstract

The story of the establishment of the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) is multifaceted and fascinating. It is a story ofinternational politics and diplomacy, of Ugandan politics in all its complexities, of dreams and false starts, of strategic timing and fortitude, and of patience and perseverance. The story spans the political regimes of virtually all the long-term presidents of Uganda, from President Idi Amin (1971–1979), to President Milton Obote II (1980–1985), to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (1986—present). This study explores that story, with a focus on the years 1987–1988, when the university was born on the campus of the former Nkoma Secondary School, in Mbale district, in the Eastern region of Uganda. However, to understand the rationale for establishing IUIU, one must first understand the history of Muslim education during the pre- and postindependence eras in Uganda.