Some 140 sheikhs last week graduated from Bilal Islamic Institute in Kakiri, Wakiso with a call to preach the faith in rural areas and be role models for Islam.
The appeal came from the chairman of BMK group of companies, Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige, who presided over the 46th graduation ceremony at the institute in Wakiso, where 119 new sheikhs and 21 sheikats were commissioned.
He alerted the graduands of the shortage of imams and urged them to be careful when they start their work.
“The World is filled with many societal challenges which require you to move out and preach the word of God especially among rural communities were imams are scarce,” he noted.
“I’m [pledging to] sponsor the training of a few students from this institute, who can do medicine and other science disciplines as my personal contribution because it is a calling from God to offer such an opportunity to the bright students but needy.”
Kibirige, who is a former student of the institute, argued that it was his duty to give back. He recently helped raise Shs 150m during a fundraising ceremony at Bilal Islamic institute’s Bwaise branch. The money is required to construct a new building complex to expand education services at that facility.
He later challenged the institute principal, Sufiyana Muguluma to set up a fundraising drive for a multipurpose building in memory of its current board of trustees’ chairman, Sheikh Obeid Kamulegeya.
“It would be wise for you as management … to build a multipurpose building in honor of Sheikh Obeid Kamulegeya for his outstanding leadership for this 46-year-old institute,” Kibirige observed adding that he would be ready to support such initiative.
For her part, Muguluma urged the outgoing students to protect the image of Bilal as it has trained and nurtured thousands of current Islamic leaders.
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