Islamic Education in Uganda: Challenges and Prospects of Islamization of Knowledge

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper is intended to assess the performance of the prevailing Islamic education in Uganda and how Islami z ation of human acquired knowledge can figure into improvement of the performance of this curriculum to foster modernity. The study also avails a successful methodology towards Islami z ation of knowledge in the context of Ugandan education system. The study was conducted qualitatively using secondary data , i.e. information was collected using library search , where books, journal articles, periodicals , and online resources were used in gathering data. As it was the case in the ancient Islamic empire during its golden age, what will make Islamic education in Uganda strong is its openness to both Islamic studies and social sciences side-by-side in the same curriculum to complement each other in nurturing balanced graduates , who are well integrated intellectually and spiritually . While the Islamic traditional system of education does not provide solutions to most of the contemporary issues ; the W estern system of education will provide some solutions to these issues , but with contradictory worldview to that of Islam. Few studies have considered the Islami z ation of knowledge project in overcoming secularism in education and the prevalent challenges in Islamic education system across the Muslim world. This study employs the Islami z ation of knowledge project to counteract Muslim education problems in Uganda. It , therefore , makes a theoretical contribution by considering a new concept in education as a vehicle to revamp Islamic education in Uganda. KEY WORDS: Islam , e ducation , Islamic education , Islami z ation of k nowledge , and Uganda . About the Authors: Sulaiman Lujja is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance IIUM (International Islamic University of Malaysia) in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Omar Muhamm e d and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rusni Hassan are the Lecturers at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance IIUM in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For academic interests, the authors are able to be contacted via their e-mails at: lujja.s@hotmail.com , mustafa@iium.edu.my , and hrusni@iium.edu.my How to cite this article? Lujja, Sulaiman, Mustafa Omar Muhammed & Rusni Hassan. (2016). “Islamic Education in Uganda: Challenges and Prospects of Islamization of Knowledge” in TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies , Vol.7(2) April, pp.141-156. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press and UIN SGD Bandung, ISSN 2085-0980. Chronicle of the article: Accepted (December 13, 2015); Revised (February 21, 2016); and Published (April 28, 2016).