Excitement builds as Muslims gear up for Quran recitation championship
The selection competition was held at Jamia Main Mosque in Soroti city, where Abdu Razak Abdul Hai from Wera-Amuria emerged as the top performer in the call to prayer category, followed by Sahid Hassan and Muhamad Kalenzi, both from Soroti.
Muslims gathered at Masjid Noor in Soroti City for a competition on Quran recitation on Tuesday August 18th, 2026. (Credit: Delux Emmy Alomu)
TESO - The Teso District Muslim Council has selected a team to represent the district in a regional competition featuring Quran memorisation and recitation, drum beating and the call to prayer.
The team was selected from seven political districts, namely Katakwi, Amuria, Kapelebyong, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Serere and Soroti, which make up the Teso District Muslim Council.
The selection competition was held at Jamia Main Mosque in Soroti city, where Abdu Razak Abdul Hai from Wera-Amuria emerged as the top performer in the call to prayer category, followed by Sahid Hassan and Muhamad Kalenzi, both from Soroti.
In Quran recitation with sight, Aidarus Muhammad from Soroti emerged as the winner, while Salman Hussein from Soroti and Amir Noor from Amuria tied for second place. Hashim Etegu of Soroti finished third.
In Quran recitation without sight, Abdul Muiz Nasur from Soroti emerged as the top performer after reciting five books, while Jamal Ramadhan, also from Soroti, recited two books.
In the drum (mataali) beating category, the Itiswam team from Camswahili Mosque, the Answar team from Teso Inn and the Jamia Main Mosque team, all representing Soroti city, were recognised as the best performers.
Yusuf Okiror, the county sheikh of Soroti and chief judge, announced the results shortly after the competition at Jamia Main Mosque.
The winning teams received prizes including flasks, cash awards, mathematical sets, watches, bowls and copies of the Quran, among other gifts.
Teso district Kadhi, Sheikh Ramathan Ibrahim Ibwakit remarks during the competion on Tuesday August 18th, 2026. (Credit: Delux Emmy Alomu)
Sheikh Ramathan Ibrahim Ibwakit, the district Kadhi of Teso muslim district, said the selected team will compete against teams from Moroto, Kumi and the Karamoja Muslim districts on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Soroti SS.
Sheikh Ibwakit expressed confidence in his team's chances of winning, citing the advantage of hosting the competition.
Opening the competition on August 18, 2026, Imran Muluga, the resident district commissioner, urged parents to educate their children in both English and religious studies, particularly Quran recitation.
Muluga, who also serves as the chairman of Tororo Muslim District, said the time had come for a more comprehensive approach to children's education.
“I want to advise you, parents, the days of teaching our children only one type of education are over. This generation of dot com is a generation of teaching two sectors. You need to teach them English, the Quran, and theology, and the teachers are there. And you begin with your school,” he said.
He encouraged parents to support teachers in equipping children with both religious knowledge and language skills.
The best team from the regional event will go on to represent the North-Eastern (Teso and Karamoja) Muslim region at the national competition scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, coinciding with the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Maulid).
The top performers across all categories at the national competition will have an opportunity to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca and receive additional awards.