The virtual book launch for America and The Production of Islamic Truth in Uganda, began with opening remarks and the introduction of the book’s author, Dr. Yahya Sseremba, by the moderator, Dr. Cyril Obi, Director of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program.

There were exactly four speakers: Dr. Yahya Sseremba, the author and Research Fellow at Makerere Institute for Social Research (MISR) and a distinguished alumnus of the Next Gen program; Prof. Suren Pillay, Head of African Studies and Linguistics and Director of the Center for African Studies at the University of Cape Town; Dr. Margaret Monyani, a Senior Migration Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS); and Dr. Jacob Katumusiime, a Religion and Politics scholar at MISR and a distinguished alumnus of the Next Gen program. Dr. Obi introduced the three discussants and then invited Dr. Sseremba to speak on his book.

Dr. Sseremba thanked Dr. Obi and the APN and Next Gen team for the opportunity to discuss his book. He noted that the book investigates how the war on terror has transformed the postcolonial state in Africa. He explained how power structures in Uganda have changed, focusing particularly on Islamic education and American-led counter-extremism efforts. He contrasted pre-colonial power dynamics, which integrated outsiders into the political community, with modern colonial power, which perpetually marginalized Muslims. Dr. Sseremba also emphasized how both colonial and post-colonial governments employed indirect rule and violence to exert control over Muslims. He continued by highlighting how current hegemonic American intervention aims to standardize Islamic education, undermining traditional practices and personal autonomy. He articulated how local Muslim resistance to these reforms challenges and perpetuates the colonial legacy of separate but politically marginalized governance for Muslims.

The first discussant, Prof. Suren Pillay, praised Dr. Sseremba’s book for delving into the particularities of Ugandan colonial and post-colonial history. He admired how the book challenges assumptions in existing literature about Islam in Uganda, emphasizing its interventionist effort in questioning established theoretical frameworks. In short, the book “refuses easy binaries,” offering new ways to understand anti-Islam and anti-Muslim violence. He also noted that the book addressed how dominant narratives around Islamist violence often distort realities within these communities. Prof. Pillay concluded by applauding the book for its nuanced analysis, its ability to transcend binaries like tradition versus modernity, and its refusal to adopt oversimplified abstractions.

The second discussant, Dr. Margaret Monyani, praised the book for its in-depth analysis of the profound impact of war and terror on the post-colonial state in Africa, focusing on American intervention in Islamic education in Uganda. She highlighted three key messages: the transformation of the post-colonial state from indirect governance to direct state control over Islamic life; the critical examination of U.S. foreign policy in countering extremism during the War on Terror; and the urgency of local Muslim communities in responding to external interventions by modernizing education. She appreciated the book’s interdisciplinary approach that combines historical analysis, theoretical frameworks, and critical examination of contemporary interventions, but noted the lack of indigenous African perspectives and gender analysis.

The third discussant, Dr. Jacob Katumusiime, described the book as a crucial reminder of the lasting impact of colonialism on Islamic thought and education in Uganda. He compared American intervention to the British colonial mission, both aiming to control Islamic practice under the guise of a “civilizing mission.” He questioned how contemporary Muslim thinkers can imagine an identity beyond colonial modernity and considered the dominance of Saudi Salafi interpretations. Jacob also pondered whether non-Muslims could contribute to Islamic scholarship. He ultimately argued that the book is a powerful critique of colonialism and a call to decolonize Islamic thought and state institutions.

There were particular highlights during the Q&A session. Habib Uthuman Mailamung asked Dr. Sseremba about Muslims’ subjective interpretations of Islamic teachings to justify violence. Dr. Sseremba responded, by stating that every interpretation is subjective, as “the text shapes the believer, but the believer also shapes the text through their interpretation.” He suggested that understanding how believers might interpret texts to justify violence against the United States, the Ugandan state, or particular groups moves us beyond the simplistic view that texts solely control believers’ actions and beliefs.

Another participant, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim asked Dr. Sseremba to what extent the strategies and techniques of governing Muslims in Uganda by the colonial and post-colonial state inform Muslim rebellion or non-rebellion. Dr. Sseremba responded by stating that to grasp violence in Muslim societies, we must place it within the broader context of political violence and modernity. The modern state embodies an inherently authoritarian and violent structure of power.

Following the Q&A session, the author and all discussants thanked the APN and Next Gen team for allowing them to discuss the book, praising it once again for its thoughtfulness and engaging nature. Dr. Obi concluded the Virtual Book Launch by stating that the works of scholars like Dr. Sseremba remind us that there is still resistance, agency, and hope in Africa even in seemingly impossible situations. He thanked all the participants in the event for their insightful questions and contributions, while announcing that another virtual book discussion would be scheduled to hold in a couple of months.